Old World Portraits
Self-Portrait, Yawning
Joseph Ducreux
This 1783 self-portrait by Joseph Ducreux captures a candid, humorous moment of human exhaustion with masterful theatricality.
Niels Klim Awakened by a Bull
Nicolai Abildgaard
1785 · Oil Paint, Canvas
A captivating 18th-century narrative scene depicting a moment of dreamlike confusion from Danish literature.
$169
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From $129
1 frame size
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Where it works
A measured, grounding piece in walnut and cognac tones — sits comfortably in a more formal setting.
- Often works in
- Library · Study · Living Room
- Placement
- Reads naturally where the wall has more height than width
- Walls
- Benefits from light or mid-tone surroundings
- Color notes
- Rich brown, Terracotta clay, Charcoal black
About the piece
Painted by Nicolai Abildgaard in 1785, this work illustrates a scene from Ludvig Holberg’s satirical novel, 'Niels Klim’s Underground Travels.' The composition masterfully contrasts the solid, grounded presence of the bull with the ethereal, smoky vision of the deacon, capturing the protagonist’s disorientation upon waking. Abildgaard's use of a warm, muted palette and soft edges creates an atmospheric and scholarly feel.
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