Frederic Saltonstall Gould (1853-1920) 19th-20th century

Curator: Albert Herter painted this portrait of Frederic Saltonstall Gould. It now resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The figure seems self-possessed, almost detached, holding that book as if it were a shield against the world. Curator: Well, consider the material reality: oil on canvas, a common choice for portraiture among elites, signaling status through the very act of commissioning. Editor: The book itself certainly functions as a symbol of intellect, perhaps of a specific field of knowledge depending on its contents. Curator: Precisely. And how the artist manipulated the paint, the brushstrokes building up to create a sense of weighty presence, is paramount. What kind of labor went into this, and who benefited? Editor: Yes, but beyond the labor, it points to deeper stories of knowledge, power, and perhaps even the anxieties of the intellectual class at the time. Curator: Perhaps, but always remember: it’s pigments and cloth shaped by human hands within a specific economic framework. Editor: A good reminder to keep our feet on the ground, even while our heads are in the clouds.