Self-portrait, aged 38, with Chickens by William Huggins of Liverpool, 1820-1884

Self-portrait, aged 38, with Chickens

William Huggins of Liverpool, 1820-1884

Signed and dated 1858

Oil on board laid on canvas

21 x 17 inches

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This work shows the artist feeding his beloved chickens. Huggins established a new and individual technique in creating a translucent and bright quality to his paintings, as exemplified here. He used smooth white millboards onto which he made careful pencil outlines. These would be then glazed very richly with thin, transparent colours that would allow the white to shine through creating a luminous, sometimes rainbow effect. — Rupert Maas

References

Maas, Rupert. British Pictures. London: The Maas Gallery. 2006. Catalogue number 47.

Last modified 11 August 2006