The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2nd floor, room 14
Oil on canvas, 98 x 74 cm
Poussin painted two self-portraits in the same year, one for Jean Pointel, which is now kept at the Gemäldegalerie of Berlin, the other – which set the image of Poussin for posterity – for Paul Fréart de Chantelou, a friend and patron of the artist. The latter wanted a portrait of the artist, not necessarily a self-portrait, and asked him to assign the task to a portraitist from Rome. However, upon reflection, Poussin decided to paint himself.
The portrait is signed: Effigies Nicolai Poussini Andelyensis Pictoris. Anno Aetatis 56. Romae Anno jubilei 1650 (portrait of painter Nicolas Poussin from Les Andelys, aged 56, completed in Rome in 1650 – see the details of the work below).
