Self-Portrait of the Artist in his Studio

The artist shows himself seated, cross legged, left to right holding a palette in his left hand and a brush in his right. In the background an austere wood panelled backdrop. Dating by Hayman’s age and by the costume of the sitter in the related Portrait of a Lady (probably the wife of the artist) and probable date of marriage to first wife (January 1734), means this is the execution date of the painting. The artist shows himself seated, cross legged, left to right holding a palette in his left hand and a brush in his right. In the background an austere wood panelled backdrop.

Francis Hayman (1708-1776) was an English artist, known for being one of the founding members of the Royal Academy in 1768. Hayman played to the French Rococo style, and depicted literary scenes.

Purchased with assistance from the Sir Harry Veitch Bequest Trust Fund, 1963