Benjamin Waterhouse (1754-1846) 1831

Editor: Here we have James Frothingham's portrait of Benjamin Waterhouse. It's quite a striking image. What do you see in this piece, beyond just a historical portrait? Curator: I see a statement about power and intellectual authority. Waterhouse, a physician, is presented with the trappings of knowledge – the book, the spectacles. How does this portrayal reinforce or challenge the social hierarchy of the time? Editor: I guess it makes him seem important, scholarly. But was that status available to everyone? Curator: Exactly. Consider who was excluded from accessing such status and knowledge. This portrait invites us to question the systems that uphold this particular image of authority. It's not just a likeness; it's a cultural artifact. Editor: That's given me a lot to think about. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Hopefully, our listeners will also contemplate the complex social implications of portraiture.