Self-portrait (1847)

Juan Cordero (1847–1926), born as Juan Nepomuceno Maria Bernabe del Corazon de Jesus Cordero de Hoyos, was a Mexican painter of the 19th century. Born in Puebla, he had a great ambition for drawing and painting; for this reason his family decided to move to Mexico City so that they could help develop his talent. Eventually they enrolled him in the Academia San Carlos, an institution where he met his mentor Miguel Mata y Reyes. Mata y Reyes persuaded Cordero to continue his artistic studies in Rome, to which he moved in 1844. Once in Rome, he demonstrated the abilities of a remarkable painter and executed numerous works in the classical art style. The above artwork is an oil painting on canvas, measuring 730 x 983 mm, entitled 'Self-portrait,' which was painted by Cordero in 1847. The composition shows a portrait of a gentleman with a serious expression, looking directly at the viewer with a firm, penetrating gaze, suggesting that the figure possesses a strong character and a subtle arrogance. The opulence he displays in the Self-Portrait is somewhat of a façade… he did not have much money to work with when it was painted. However, his financial situation did not stop him from presenting himself in his paintings as a romantic painter coming from a wealthy social class. The detailed anatomy, especially in the areas of the head and hands, reveals his artistic and creative potential, qualities that should have placed him in a privileged position within society. Cordero's high aspirations and constant pursuit of public recognition of his talent caused him to turn down the San Carlos Academy's 1854 offer to become deputy director, as he considered it far below his expectations. Cordero passed away on May 28, 1884, at the age of 62.