Portrait of Edward Holden Cruttenden 1720 - 1771

Editor: So here we have "Portrait of Edward Holden Cruttenden," rendered in oil paint by Joshua Reynolds sometime between 1720 and 1771. The sitter appears…well, quite content, maybe a touch smug? All that elaborate embroidery must have been dreadfully itchy. What stands out to you when you look at this portrait? Curator: Content is a good word! To me, it's the way Reynolds captures a kind of…contained affluence. It’s not just the clothing, it's the slight puffiness of the face, the almost languid pose. Do you notice how Reynolds’s brushstrokes are so smooth, almost invisible? It adds to the impression of effortless ease, a life free from harsh edges. I feel like he wants to project himself to others! Editor: Yes! I was focusing so much on the embroidery that I missed the subtlety in his face, and the smoothness in brushstrokes gives it an air of prestige and delicacy! It's definitely selling an image. So, it’s all about crafting this very specific message of status? Curator: Precisely. Reynolds was the master of presenting his subjects in the most favorable light, reflecting their own aspirations and societal ideals. How does the rather neutral backdrop support that? Editor: Because all of my attention gets drawn toward Cruttenden. Curator: Indeed! And did you notice the very controlled color palette of darker and paler colors, and all its elegance? It all funnels attention toward this individual and his place in the world. He wants us to look at the overall aura surrounding the portrait, Editor: It's almost like the subject is projecting this self image and expects viewers to buy in and follow what’s being laid out! This was way more intentional than I first grasped. Thank you so much for opening my eyes!