Self-Portrait c. 1810

Editor: Here we have Sir Francis Chantrey’s “Self-Portrait”. I’m immediately drawn to the materiality of the paint and the visible brushstrokes. What can you tell me about the process and the context? Curator: Chantrey’s focus here seems to be on depicting himself as a working artist. Note the prominent display of his tools: the drawing, the paper, the hand in the act. It emphasizes artistic labor, doesn’t it? How does this challenge our assumptions about high art? Editor: It makes me consider the craft involved. I hadn’t thought of it that way before! Curator: Exactly. And consider the social implications. Who was Chantrey making art for, and how did his self-representation affect his market value, his social standing? Editor: This has really opened my eyes to a different perspective on portraiture. Thank you. Curator: Indeed, thinking about the artist's labor changes how we understand the value of the artwork itself.