Self Portrait

In the best tradition of artist's self-portraits, this is a work of psychological insight. As well as the bohemian elegance there is also a sense of weariness, almost exhaustion. This perhaps reflects the huge demand across Europe for Mengs's religious and historical paintings. Here the artist points to one of his last works, 'Perseus and Andromeda'. It and this self-portrait were commissions from two of his many British admirers.