LONDON, ENGLAND.- A Courbet painting that has not been seen in public for almost 30 years is now on display at the National Gallery. the Gallery is delighted that Gustave Courbet's 'Self Portrait ('The Desperate Man')' has been offered for inclusion in 'Rebels & Martyrs: The Image of the Artist in the Nineteenth Century'.

This late addition to the exhibition is a key work of the period, from a private collection. As far as we know, it was last seen in the 1977/8 exhibition 'Gustave Courbet' which was shown at the Grand Palais, Paris and the Royal Academy of Arts, London.

It was a painting that curators had wanted to include in the exhibition, but did not have a direct contact for the owner.

Following publicity about the exhibition, the Gallery received a phone call from BNP Paribas Art Advisory, offering the work for the exhibition, from a private collection.

About the Painting - In this dramatic close-up image, we see Gustave Courbet playing with the tradition of Romantic self-portraiture.

Eyes staring, his clenched hands tearing at his hair, the artist's expression evokes the torment of the creative genius, driven to despair and desperation. In a series of early self-portraits, Courbet explored a whole repertoire of artistic identities.

He later established his role as the self-assured bohemian to express his creative independence.