Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting (La Pittura)

c. 1638–1639 · Oil on canvas · Royal Collection Trust, London

Size2:3 ratio

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$79Unframed print · made to order

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Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting (La Pittura)

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About this work

Artist: Artemisia Gentileschi (1593–1656)
Year: c. 1638–1639
Medium: Oil on canvas
Original size: 98.6 × 75.2 cm
Collection: Royal Collection Trust, London
Movement: Baroque

A woman in a green dress leans into her work, brush raised in one hand and palette in the other, her dark hair loose, a gold chain with a mask pendant at her throat. The details follow Cesare Ripa's prescription for the figure of Painting almost to the letter, and because Painting was by convention a woman, Artemisia Gentileschi could do what no male painter could: be the allegory and the artist at once. She painted it in England around 1638 to 1639, where she had gone to join her father Orazio at the court of Charles I, and it was in the king's collection, dispersed after his execution and recovered at the Restoration of 1660. It remains in the Royal Collection, number 405551, and has been shown at Hampton Court. Michael Levey first proposed that the figure is Artemisia herself; not everyone agrees, but the idea has stuck.

This print reproduces the whole work, uncropped, from a high-resolution scan of the original. The original is in the public domain.

Details & materials

• Restored in-house from the original plate — cleaned and colour-trued at museum resolution • Heavyweight matte fine-art paper, giclée printed at 300 DPI • Sizes: 12×16, 18×24, 24×32 in; 12×16 and 18×24 and 24×32 also available framed in black or natural wood • Made to order; colours may vary slightly from screen

Shipping & returns

Produced in 2–4 business days, then shipped from the facility nearest you. Delivery is typically 3–6 business days (US/UK/EU) and 5–12 worldwide. Because each print is made to order we don't take change-of-mind returns, but if it arrives damaged or flawed we'll reprint or refund it — no return needed. Full policy →

Is this the whole painting, or a crop?

The whole work, uncropped. The image fills the print at the painting's own proportions; nothing is trimmed to fit a frame.

Is Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting (La Pittura) in the public domain?

Yes. Artemisia Gentileschi (1593–1656) died more than 70 years ago and the work was published before 1929, so the painting itself is public domain. This print is a reproduction made from a high-resolution scan of the original, which is held by Royal Collection Trust.

What is it printed on?

Heavyweight matte fine-art paper with pigment inks, made to order in 12×18, 16×24 and 24×36 inches; the two larger sizes are also offered framed. Colours are matched to the scan, not brightened.

When was Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting (La Pittura) painted, and in what medium?

Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting (La Pittura) dates from c. 1638–1639 and was made in oil on canvas; the original measures 98.6 × 75.2 cm.

What size works above a sofa or bed?

For a standard three-seat sofa or a queen bed, 24×36 inches reads as a single statement piece; 16×24 suits a narrower wall or a pairing. The print's proportions follow the original, so a landscape-format painting is wider than it is tall.

About this design

Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting (La Pittura) (Artemisia Gentileschi) — the painting printed edge-to-edge at its own proportions. Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting · Artemisia Gentileschi · c. 1638–1639. This is a fine-art reproduction of a public-domain masterwork, shown whole and uncropped on a gallery ground, printed to order on heavyweight matte fine-art paper. Three sizes (12×18, 16×24, 24×36 in); the 16×24 and 24×36 are also offered framed. Part of the Madten Fine Art Collection. — — — Printed to order and shipped by our production partner, Gelato.

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Gallery-grade archival giclée. Rich pigment inks on heavyweight fine-art paper (or gallery-wrapped canvas) — built to last, not a poster-shop print.

Arrives perfect or we reprint it — free. Every piece is made to order; if it shows up damaged or flawed we remake it, no return needed.

Free worldwide shipping. Made & shipped from the facility nearest you — most orders arrive in ~4–8 business days.

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