Juan de Zavala (1845) - Autorretrato de Tiziano

Magnificent 19th-century oil on canvas (Romantic Period), precisely dated 1845 and signed by the academic copyist painter Juan de Zavala. The work reproduces with extraordinary fidelity and technical mastery the celebrated twilight “Self-Portrait” by the master of the Venetian Renaissance, Titian Vecellio, whose original is held at the Museo Nacional del Prado (Madrid).Signature and Historical Importance: The painting retains its valuable original handwritten inscription on the left side: “Juan de Zavala, year 1845.” This precise dating documents the authorship of a professional painter in the 19th century, when copying the great masters in Madrid’s art collections was the ultimate test of skill and academic prestige.Pictorial Quality and Technique: The artist demonstrates outstanding command of color and classical drawing. He perfectly captures the severity and psychological dignity of the elderly Titian’s face, rendering with great solidity the textures of his long gray beard, the folds of his dark garments, and the subtle golden glints of the gold chain.Condition and Patina: The canvas has a beautiful antique patina and fine, even craquelure, fully consistent with its more than 180 years of age. The painting is stable and presented in an ornate period carved and gilded wooden frame that greatly enhances its presence. An exceptional piece for collectors of 19th-century painting and fine decorative art.
Dimensions: 90 x 70 with frame, 80 x 60 without frame