French School; early 19th century.

French School; early 19th century.
“Portrait of Jacob van Schuppen.”
Oil on canvas.
The frame has some minor damage.
It has an information label on the back.
Measurements: 90 x 71 cm; 107 x 87 cm (frame).
This work, belonging to the early 19th-century French school, is modeled after the famous self-portrait of Jacob van Schuppen housed at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna (Inv. 639), an image linked to the tradition of European artistic portraiture and to the depiction of the painter as an intellectual and creative figure. The composition echoes the structure of the original model, presenting the artist with a serene and dignified demeanor, accompanied by the attributes characteristic of his profession—elements that underscore his status as a master and representative of the academic world.
Jacob van Schuppen (1660–1751), a painter of Flemish origin trained in France and Italy, was a key figure in the renewal of art education in Vienna, where he became director of the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts. His self-portrait follows the Baroque tradition of the artist’s portrait, in which the personal image also serves as a statement of prestige, knowledge, and authority within the arts.
The version created in the early 19th century retains the solemn character of the original but adapts to the neoclassical taste of the time, which emphasized compositional clarity, precision of drawing, and the revival of historical models. The work functions not only as a physical representation of the painter but also as a tribute to the figure of the creator and to the importance of academies as institutions charged with preserving and transmitting artistic knowledge.