Baron Jean-Baptiste Regnault (Paris 1754-1829)

Sells dates this self-portrait to 1793-4, noting that Regnault's unusual decision to paint himself with a beard, which makes this work unique amongst Regnault's imaginative autodepictions, relates to his having been excluded from the Revolutionary Societé Republicaine des Arts, with other artists of suspect political loyalties, who were described by Jacques-Louis David, 'ceux-ci ont du talent, mais leur patriotisme est sans couleur'. Regnault grew a beard in response to this public humiliation.