Portret van Charles Rogers 1778

This print of Charles Rogers was made by William Wynne Ryland in 18th-century England. Rogers, identified as both F.R.S. and S.A.L., was a Fellow of the Royal Society and the Society of Antiquaries of London, and he collected and wrote about art. Prints like these became very fashionable. They responded to the growing middle class and the expansion of art institutions, such as the Royal Academy, founded in 1768, where artists were trained and exhibited their work. Printmaking allowed artists to reproduce and disseminate images widely and cheaply. These images created a sense of national identity and aesthetic taste. Here Rogers is shown in a simple but elegant style, befitting a man of intellect and refinement. To understand the role of art in 18th-century England, we can look at sources, such as membership records of art institutions, publications by collectors and connoisseurs like Rogers, and histories of the art market. All this helps us appreciate how art reflected and shaped British culture.