Russell Gurney c. 1875 - 1878

Editor: Here we have George Frederic Watts’s portrait of Russell Gurney. It feels so serious, almost somber. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: Ah, Watts! He painted portraits like he was trying to capture a soul, not just a likeness. The dark palette pushes Gurney forward, but I think it also speaks to the weight of Victorian morality at the time, don’t you think? Editor: That’s interesting. It makes you wonder what Gurney was thinking. Curator: Exactly! Perhaps he was contemplating the Reform Act, which he helped pass, or maybe just the next cup of tea. It's that ambiguity that keeps us looking. Editor: I will never look at dark palettes the same way. Thanks!