How They Saw Themselves Trivia Quiz

Answer: Raphael

Raphael was one of the most gifted painters, as well as architects, of his generation. Known for the smooth, flowing nature of his paintings and his use of shadow, Raphael was a famous painter by the time he was 20 years old. He was a very prolific painter who left a huge legacy of artwork when he died at the age of 37.

Although he never married, and had no children, he did have a long-standing mistress, to whom he left a large legacy. He was described as charming, well-mannered, and intelligent.

His self-portraits do not show the inner torment found in many other artist's self-interpretations.

Answer: Paul Cezanne

Cezanne was tormented by self-doubt in his younger years. He was a private man who preferred to work in isolation. He is a mysterious figure who was well thought of by his fellow artists. Scholars disagree as to whether Paul Cezanne was a genius or a madman.

In his four-decade career he produced over 400 watercolors and almost a thousand oil paintings. He married and had a child, but very little is known about either. He is considered to be one of the most influential Post-Impressionistic painters, and is often credited with paving the way for much of the modern art that is produced today. Photos of Cezanne show a very intense, but somewhat shadowy, man.

Answer: Peter Paul Rubens

Peter Paul Rubens was one of the most famous European artists of the 17th century. He was known for his flamboyant style of painting and his romantic representations of both religious and mythological history. His use of color and light gave an ethereal mood to most of his compositions.

He married Isabella Brant in 1609 and she is a figure in some of his paintings. Her death, at the age of 34, affected Rubens greatly. He then married his wife's 16 year old cousin. She is believed to be the inspiration for the well-rounded women found in many of his later works.

He is usually depicted as a happy man who liked the finer things in life. Most of his self-portraits depict a proud man with a truly confident opinion of himself. The other three options are 21st century artists.

Answer: Caravaggio

Caravaggio was one of the earliest Italian artists to master the chiaroscuro method. This dramatic use of light and dark help bring dimension to his paintings and allowed for better facial expressions. Caravaggio used himself as the model for the severed head of Goliath. Caravaggio was afflicted throughout his life with anger management issues which led to frequent brawls and the possibly accidental death of a young man in 1606.

He also had to live in fear of his possibly bisexual leanings, which at that time could be punished by death.

There were rumors that he destroyed several of his paintings after the works were given minor criticism. It is believed by some that he suffered from lead poisoning which caused these behaviors and eventually killed him.

Answer: Paul Gauguin

Paul Gauguin was known for his use of bright colors and unusual depictions of body proportions. He is credited by some as the father of the Primitivist art movement. Gauguin was an unusual man who was known for claiming to be of Incan descent. He was known for his debauchery and alcoholism.

He abandoned his wife and five children so that he could concentrate on his painting. He moved to Tahiti and lived with natives in an effort to escape all European culture and influences. His often erratic behaviors were probably caused by syphilis, which he acquired as a young man.

His self-portraits often are done with an air of melancholy and darkness. The other three options are all famous Spanish painters.

Answer: Albrecht Durer

There are many who consider Albrecht Durer to be a real "Renaissance Man". Not only was he skilled in watercolors, engraving, and oil painting, but he also had numerous works published dealing with geometry, perspective, and other mathematical principles. Balance appears to dominate in many of his works. Durer was wedded to the daughter of a prominent brass worker in an arranged marriage that produced no children.

His woodcarving skills led him to create numerous alters, and his painting skills led to him painting others.

The intricacy of his carvings have led to some scholars vowing that these were some of the best woodblocks produced in that period. The other three options were all female American artists.

Answer: Poland

Jacek Malczewski is a revered Polish painter whose paintings combined Symbolism with the themes of war, patriotism and martyrdom. Many of his self-portraits display a confident man wearing a variety of costumes such as the suit of armor seen in this painting.

He was known for elaborate, somewhat flamboyant personality, as well as his sense of humor. But was all of this a display for the public? After all, his most famous painting is entitled "Melancholia". Malczewski was known for using his own image in many, if not most, of his paintings.

Answer: Sculpture

Although Bernini's skill as a painter is obvious in his self-portrait, he was possibly the greatest sculptor of the 17th century. He was also a great architect and his creations can be found all over Europe. He is known for his works of art that combine both architecture, lighting, and sculpture.

He created many famous churches, public fountains, and funerary monuments. He was known for his ability to create facial expressions which previous sculptors had not done. Many scholars believe his greatest achievement to be the colonnade enclosing the piazza before St. Peter's Basilica. Bernini did not marry until he was over 40, after which he produced eleven children.

This self-portrait appears to show a determined, very serious young man.

Answer: False

Munch was an important Norwegian artist whose works mirrored his inner torture. He is possibly most famous for his painting called "The Scream", which he painted in 1893. Many of his works have titles displaying his struggles with depression, possible mental illness and alcoholism. Munch never married, believing the history of mental illness in his family made him a poor choice as a husband and father. Munch was considered to be an important figure in the art movement known as Expressionism, and was known to add symbolism and psychological themes in his artwork.

He did NOT depict himself in every one of his works of art.

Answer: False

John Singer Sargent was a multi-national painter known mostly for his portraits. He was the top portrait painter of his time and commanded some of the highest prices in the world for his portraits. He also loved to paint landscapes and even animals at some times.

While he traveled greatly across Europe with frequent furloughs to the United States, he did not travel to Africa to paint the wildlife. He was an extremely private man and very little is known about his personal life other than he never married.

This self-portrait depicts the confident, cultured, well-educated man that he was said to be.