| Artist | |
|---|---|
| Culture | German |
| Date | ca. 1690–1700 |
| Object type | painting |
| Medium, technique | oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 128 x 98 cm |
| Inventory number | 1986 |
| Collection | Old Master Paintings |
| On view | Museum of Fine Arts, First Floor, European Art 1600–1700 and British Painting 1600–1800, Cabinet 2 |
Adler’s work is probably an example of a rare
subgenre of portraiture: the double self-portrait.
Owing to the similarity in the facial features of the
two figures looking out at the beholder, we may
assume that the ageing master is depicted here
together with an image of his younger self. The
contrast between the two portrayals also indicates
a change in character and state of mind throughout
time. While the youth’s expression is careworn,
the elderly master stands before us rather
haughtily, fully conscious of his talent. His traits
must have been enlivened by the successes of his
flourishing career. The contrast of light and shade
can be traced to the art of Rembrandt, which Adler
may have become familiar with indirectly through
Willem Drost, a pupil of the Dutch master, who
also spent time in Venice.
Pigler, Andor, Katalog der Galerie Alter Meister, 1-2. Museum der Bildenden Künste, Szépművészeti Múzeum, Budapest. 2, Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, 1967, p. 20.
This record is subject to revision due to ongoing research.
