Antoine Maurin (1793 Perpignan - 1860 Paris): Portrait of the painter Anton Raphael Mengs (1728-1779), 19th century, Lithography

Technique: Lithography on China paperPaper

Inscription: Lower right signed in the printing plate: "Maurin". At the lower part inscribed in the printing plate: "Imp. lith. de Chabert, rue Cassette, No. 20. / Raphael Mengs.".

Date: 19th century

Description: The portrait of Anton Raphael Mengs drawn on stone by Antoine Maurin shows the painter with a penetrating gaze and delicately indicated wrinkles around his eyes and nose. It is easy to recognise the model for the lithograph in the artist's Berlin self-portrait, which was painted in the last years of his life, probably in 1778. The exhaustion of the court artist, who travelled widely between Dresden, Rome and Madrid and was extremely productive throughout his life, is effectively indicated in the portrait of himself. The portrait is considered to be one of the "most impressive and personal documents of self-representation ever", as it shows the unadorned traces of age as well as the mastery of technique achieved only through age and years of practice. The model for this lithograph is dated to the last years of Anton Raphael Mengs' life. It shows the artist at the age of around 50, after he had moved to Rome in 1777. Serious illnesses increasingly burdened him, but hardly kept him from working. Finally, the death of his wife in April 1778 took its toll on the artist's ailing mind and health. Sensitively captured by Maurin, the lithograph also reveals the artist's strength of character, the proud demeanour of the sought-after court artist and, last but not least, his clear, observant gaze.

Keywords: Lithograph, Portrait, France, 19th century, Classicism, Portraits, Germany,

Size: China paper: 48,5 cm x 32,0 cm (19,1 x 12,6 in), Depiction: 24,7 cm x 22,5 cm (9,7 x 8,9 in)

Very good condition. Pale foxing, especially in the upper and left margin.

48.5 x 32 cm