Self-portrait

Art Historical Context

Jacob Hart Lazarus's *Self-Portrait* (1870–80) captures the artist in a moment of introspective gaze, rendered in rich oil on canvas—a medium favored by 19th-century American painters for its luminous depth and versatility. Measuring 27 1/8 x 22 inches, this intimate work exemplifies the self-portrait tradition, where artists like Lazarus showcased not only their likeness but also their technical prowess in handling light, texture, and expression. Created during the post-Civil War era in the United States, the painting reflects a burgeoning American art scene, housed today in The American Wing of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Self-portraits from this period often served as personal statements amid rapid social change, blending European influences with a distinctly Yankee realism. Lazarus, an active figure in New York's cultural circles, gifted viewers a window into his own identity through meticulous brushwork and subtle tonal modeling. Acquired as a gift from Samuel Riker Jr. in 1908, this piece underscores the era's growing appreciation for native-born talent. For visitors, it's a poignant reminder of how self-portraits humanize history, inviting us to ponder the artist's inner world amid America's Gilded Age transformation.

About the Artist

Jacob Hart Lazarus · 1822–1891

Jacob Hart Lazarus (1822–1891) was an American painter best known for his portraits and miniatures, though he also produced figures, genre scenes, and occasional history subjects. Born in New York, he spent his entire career in the city, rising from a childhood marked by poverty to achieve financial success through his art. Lazarus trained under the prominent portraitist Henry Inman and attended ...