Self-Portrait

Antonio d’Este probably carved this grand self-portrait to commemorate his election to the Accademia di San Luca, a prestigious academy of artists in Rome. The muscular torso, idealized facial features, and carefully delineated, sinuous hair demonstrate the artist’s knowledge of ancient Roman portrait busts, which he gained while working as a restorer of ancient marbles at the Vatican Museums. Este was a favored student and collaborator of Antonio Canova, the most renowned sculptor during his lifetime. The Deposition, a marble relief they worked on together is also in the collection of the Art Insitute of Chicago.