A self-portrait in oils of the German artist, Franz Hoepfner. The artist is best-known for his atmospheric oil paintings and large scale Manx landscapes produced for Douglas tourist venues. Hoepfner’s tragic personal life, which culminated in his own suicide following the death of his wife in 1893, can be seen in this portrait. The portrait, in oils, is painted in a mixture of fine detail (the face and hair) against a looser treatment of the background and clothing. Many portraits have neutral backgrounds, but here Hoepfner has included a partially rendered brick wall. Is this his semi-derelict studio? The self-portrait shows the artist in early middle age, his beard and hair beginning to show the first signs of grey. His generally unkempt appearance, together with his uniform of soft collar, loose black bow tie and artist’s smock, suggest a dishevelled bohemian artist.