Frans van Mieris was one of the most revered and sought-after Dutch artists of the Baroque period.

The artist, who spent an exceptional amount of time on each work bearing his signature, was one of the few artists of the period to strictly rely on commissions to produce art (as opposed to producing works on speculation that someone would purchase them). Because of the limited number of van Mieris’s paintings, he was one of the most copied artists of the period, as well. When examining a work attributed to Frans van Mieris, viewers must question its originality.

 

In this original self-portrait, the artist shows himself in typical fashion of the period, donning a plush hat of plum coloring with a plume at its top. What makes this portrait particularly unique is the cheerful nature of the artist. His wide smile and round cheeks give viewers the impression that he is laughing. Though, in this painting from 1668, the artist is depicted as jovial, his self-portrait from the year before shows the artist as dignified and stoic. Through these self-portraits, the artist demonstrates two important facets of his personality. First, he is a successful artist who should be revered for his art, and, second, he is a kind man whose successes have not rendered him pompous.

 

By: Emily Melton

 

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