Self-Portrait

William Henry Rinehart, born Union Bridge, MD 1825-died Rome, Italy 1874 · 1850-1874

In this profile bas-relief, William Henry Rinehart emphasizes his design knowledge. The stylized curls reveal the decorative modeling skills that the sculptor honed while carving mantelpieces as a young man in Baltimore. The directed gaze and dynamic, continuous lines give the self-portrait a sense of immediacy and energy that belie its flat background.