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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Self portrait, c. 1770-1775

Angelica Kauffmann

Self portrait, c. 1770-1775

Swiss neoclassical painter Angelica Kauffmann (1741–1807), alongside the flower painter Mary Moser, was one of the two female founder-members of the Royal Academy of Arts, London, in 1768. She achieved this when women were generally marginalised from the visual arts. Kauffmann painted a number of self portraits that celebrated her identity as an artist.

Here she presents herself with a porte-crayon in her right hand, an instrument for holding chalks and crayons, which rests on her leather-bound drawing book. The positioning of her arms appears to modestly shield her body, but her gaze is confidently directed towards the viewer. Kauffmann thus addressed any potential criticism by asserting that her professional achievements were completely compatible with the beauty and virtue expected of a lady.

National Portrait Gallery, London. Purchased, 1876
© National Portrait Gallery, London

Shakespeare to Winehouse
(More information, View all 59 images)

Self portrait
Man's Head (Self portrait III)
Harmony (Self portrait)
Winston Churchill

Related information

William Shakespeare, c. 1600-1610 associated with John Taylor
William Shakespeare, c. 1600-1610 associated with John Taylor
William Shakespeare, c. 1600-1610 associated with John Taylor
William Shakespeare, c. 1600-1610 associated with John Taylor

Take thy face hence

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2022

Joanna Gilmour travels through time to explore the National Portrait Gallery London’s masterpieces in Shakespeare to Winehouse.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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