The National Gallery Masterpiece Tour: Rembrandt’s 'Self Portrait At The Age Of 63

A much-loved work from the National Gallery Collection – Self Portrait at the Age of 63 by Rembrandt – is on tour as the final painting in the three-year Masterpiece Tour.

'Self Portrait at the Age of 63' is one of Rembrandt's last pictures. Painted in the final year of his life, it is a particularly poignant work, showing the great Master now aged and reflective.

Through the use of light and layers of heavily textured paint, Rembrandt directs our focus towards his face. X-radiographs have shown that originally, Rembrandt painted himself wearing a much larger, white cap, and holding a brush in his right hand; both of these elements were then edited out, so that nothing distracts the viewer from a 'direct' encounter with the artist.

The Masterpiece Tour is part of the National Gallery’s commitment to promote the understanding, knowledge and appreciation of Old Master paintings to as wide an audience as possible. This opportunity to bring hugely popular National Gallery paintings to the public’s doorstep is made possible by the generous support of Christie’s.