Captain John Linzee (1743-1798) 1782

Editor: This is Sir George Chalmers' portrait of Captain John Linzee. The detail in his uniform is striking. What do you make of the way Chalmers depicts status through material representation? Curator: It's fascinating how Chalmers uses the elaborate gold trim and buttons on Linzee's coat, and the polished wood of the telescope, to signal wealth and authority. How does this relate to the labor and materials involved in creating and sustaining that status? Editor: That's a great point! It makes me consider the social structure it implies. Thanks! Curator: Indeed! It highlights how even a portrait can be a document of material culture.