Self Portrait 1780 - 1790

This is Philippe Laurent Roland's marble self-portrait. This sculpture speaks to the growing status of artists in late 18th century France. We see a self-assured individual, presented in the classical style favored by the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, the state institution that controlled artistic production at the time. The Academy promoted history painting and sculpture as the highest forms of art. Note the turn of the head and the carefully arranged hair, these elements adhere to the period's aesthetic ideals. As an academician, Roland was part of a system that upheld certain social and artistic values. By creating a self-portrait in marble, a material associated with permanence and prestige, Roland affirms his place within this hierarchy. Understanding this work requires us to delve into the Academy's records, exhibition catalogs, and the social networks of artists like Roland to grasp the full picture of his artistic identity.