Self Portrait (aged 17) 1840

"Self Portrait (aged 17)" is a self-portrait painted by Alexandre Cabanel in 1840, depicting the artist at the young age of 17. The painting, currently located in the Musée Fabre, Montpellier, France, showcases the artist's early artistic prowess and the beginnings of his renowned realist style. The close-up perspective and intense gaze of the subject lend a sense of intimacy and introspective depth to the work, characteristic of the self-portrait genre, and a forerunner of Cabanel's later success in portraiture. The detailed rendering of the artist's features, including the subtle play of light and shadow, underscores Cabanel's keen observation and technical skill.