About this artwork

This self-portrait shows the artist sitting at his easel pointing to a painting that he has just completed. The inspiration for this composition came from a self-portrait by George Jamesone that was almost certainly at Castle Grant when Waitt was associated with Clan Grant. Jamesone’s portrait features the artist holding a palette whilst pointing to several of his paintings on the wall behind. In Waitt’s work, the painting of the nude on his easel (a rare example) is probably a representation of 'sight' from the traditional series of the five senses, explaining the little hand-mirror - and, of course, the unseen mirror into which Waitt himself looks. Or perhaps the woman, who gazes towards the artist rather than her mirror, symbolises the art of portraiture itself.

Updated before 2020

  • artist:
    Richard Waitt (1684 - 1733) Scottish
  • title:
    Richard Waitt, d. 1732. Portrait painter (Self-portrait)
  • date created:
    1728
  • materials:
    Oil on canvas
  • measurements:
    107.00 x 127.00 cm; Framed: 118.20 x 138.60 x 5.10 cm
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    Purchased 1968
  • accession number:
    PG 2142
  • gallery:
  • depicted:
  • subject:
  • artwork photographed by:
    Antonia Reeve
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Richard Waitt

Richard Waitt