Behold the cover for Master of Shadows which releases this coming October. You'll excuse me if I suggest it works beautifully; credit and major thanks go to designer Emily Mahon. The self-portrait, from 1623, was done at the request of King Charles I, of England — a Rubens fan. The artist was initially reluctant to paint it; he generally avoided self-portraits, and thought it immodest to send his own portrait to a king. There was no refusing Charles, however, and it's a good thing. The picture is now a part of the royal collection at Windsor.
