Portrait of a Sculptor c. 1750

The anonymous "Portrait of a Sculptor" (c. 1750), housed at the Städel Museum, is a captivating depiction of a young artist at work. The subject, clad in a simple coat and white shirt, is captured in a moment of intense concentration, his hand firmly gripping a chisel. His white cap, a common garment worn by sculptors to protect their clothing from dust and debris, further emphasizes his identity. The artist's skillful rendering of the figure's expression and the subtle details of his tools imbues the portrait with a sense of realism and authenticity, providing a glimpse into the daily life of a 18th-century sculptor.