Robert Liston 1800

Gilbert Stuart’s portrait of Robert Liston is an exercise in the techniques of oil paint, and the business of rendering likeness. Stuart was well known for his skill in capturing the elite of late 18th-century society. It’s worth considering the sheer labor required for the production of such an artwork, and the social position of those who could afford it. From preparing the canvas and mixing pigments, to layering glazes and capturing the likeness of the sitter, it was time-consuming work. What’s interesting here is the interplay between the conventions of portraiture and the materiality of paint. Stuart uses the fluidity of his medium to create a sense of depth and texture, which ultimately speaks to the sitter's social standing. When we consider the making alongside its context, we get a richer appreciation of its cultural significance, blurring the lines between craft and fine art.