Portrait of a Man 1781

Editor: So here we have Antoine Vestier's "Portrait of a Man," painted in 1781. It looks like it's done with ink on ivory, and it's incredibly small! I find the miniature format fascinating, so intimate. What really stands out to you about this work? Curator: Intimate indeed. Miniatures were the selfies of the 18th century, little tokens of affection or status. What jumps out at me is the duality, it's neoclassicism flirting with rococo frivolity, would'nt you agree? See how he balances that formal composition, yet softens it all with this kind of, dreamy handling of light? It makes me wonder about the sitter… Did Vestier capture his true self, or just what he wanted others to see? Editor: I see what you mean, that the softness really sets off the rigidity, or formality. It's so small and ornate too! Who do you think would own something like this, back then? Curator: Likely someone of considerable wealth. Imagine receiving this portrait - almost a whisper of a person. And, given the elaborate frame, definitely intended to be shown off and admired. The level of detail! Each swirl in his wig, rendered on something you could hold in the palm of your hand. It feels almost… secretive, doesn’t it? A treasure to be discovered. Editor: Definitely. And the amount of skill required is just mind-boggling. This was before photography, so this was like, their Instagram profile! Curator: Precisely! A carefully constructed performance of self, distilled into this tiny object. Makes you wonder, doesn't it, what kind of miniature world *we're* crafting for ourselves online, and what a future curator might make of it all. Editor: It certainly does! Thanks so much for helping me see this in a new light! Curator: My pleasure. Every tiny portrait contains a universe, after all, and sometimes, we need a magnifying glass – or just a fresh pair of eyes – to find it.