Portræt af supercargo Niels Keilgaard 1777 - 1844

F.C. Camradt created this miniature portrait of supercargo Niels Keilgaard in the late 18th or early 19th century. During this period, class distinctions were clearly defined, influencing who had the means to commission or create art. This piece offers a glimpse into the world of a man whose profession, "supercargo," involved overseeing cargo on merchant ships, a role that connected him to the global trade networks of the time. Although small, this portrait speaks volumes about identity and status. Niels Keilgaard is depicted with a certain reserved confidence, his gaze direct and his attire suggesting a man of means. It invites us to consider how individuals navigated their identities within the economic structures of their time. How did one’s profession shape their self-perception and social standing? How are we implicated in similar dynamics today?