Painted in 1853, Self-Portrait in a Red Robe is the only self-portrait of Watts is known to have painted in the middle period of his career.

Created to decorate the entrance of the Watts's studio, the painting shows the artist in the red gown of a Venetian lawyer. Watts had visited Venice in 1853, and the city's lawyers had featured prominently in Justice, his grand fresco for Lincoln's Inn.

Provenance

By descent to Ronald Chapman; sold SothebyÂ’s, 1979; sold Christie's, 1998; sold SothebyÂ’s, 1999; private collection; sold ChristieÂ’s, June 2004.


Back to top