Supposed Self Portrait of Giovanni Antonio Canal (1697-1768)

This self-portrait from 1850 offers a revealing glimpse into Bernardo Bellotto's self-perception in the artist's final years. Bernardo Bellotto uses the self-portrait tradition to assert artistic identity and social status. The nineteenth-century artist's self-portrait served as both professional advertisement and personal exploration, and this work, painted in the aftermath of the 1848 revolutions that swept Europe, reflects the elevated status painters had achieved in European society.

Executed in Oil on canvas, the work showcases Bernardo Bellotto's skilled technique, with particular attention to the interplay of light across the sitter's features. The handling of drapery and accessories demonstrates the skill expected of formal portraiture.