ABEL, Josef (1764-1818):

Portrait of the artist’s Father Melchior, or Self-portrait ,

Etching. Heller-Andresen 2, first state of two; Meyer, Allgemeines Kunstler-Lexicon I, 2, first state of two before signature and address

A fine impression with wide margins. Some pale scattered foxing in these, otherwise in very good condition. 206 x 160mm.
$1,500

The nose and set of the mouth in this portrait have enough resemblance to the painted self-portrait in front of an easel, as well as the etched self-portrait of c.1800, to raise the possibility that this is a later self-portrait rather than the supposed portrait of his father. Rare. Abel was an accomplished artist working in Vienna, Poland and Rome, producing many portraits and history paintings.