The Self-Portraits of Marcello Bacciarelli: Dating and Attributions

Abstract

The paper is devoted to Marcello Bacciarelli’s (1731–1818) self-portraits and paintings described as such in literature, their attribution and dating. According to the author, only three of Bacciarelli’s paintings currently regarded as his self-portraits are accurately labelled as such: Self-Portrait in a Brown Coat (1788–89, NMW), most likely painted with a view to being donated to the Roman Academy of Saint Luke; Self-Portrait in a Confederate Cap (Konfederatka) (1793, NMW), commissioned by Stanislaus Augustus at the difficult time of Poland’s second partition, and Self-Portrait in a Redingote (c. 1785–88, Muzeum Sztuki in Łódź). The author argues that none of the other alleged self-portraits of the master demonstrate features of his style.