Self-portrait 1856

This self-portrait was painted by Friedrich von Amerling, an Austrian painter who lived and worked throughout much of the 19th century. Amerling was a court painter in Vienna, at a time when the Habsburg Empire still held sway. Austria's influence on European politics and culture was beginning to wane, however, and the revolutions of 1848 challenged the old order. This portrait gives us a sense of the image that artists such as Amerling cultivated, in order to appeal to aristocratic patrons. The loose brushwork and informal composition suggest the influence of Romanticism. The expression is more contemplative than heroic, yet the man is well-groomed and confident. As a court painter, Amerling's career was intertwined with the political and social institutions of his time. He depended on the patronage of powerful people, and his art reflects their values and tastes. To understand Amerling's art more fully, we can consult letters, diaries, newspaper articles, and other archival sources, to learn about the social and political context in which he lived and worked.