Portrait of George Keith, 10th Earl Marischal 1752

Placido Costanzi painted this portrait of George Keith, the 10th Earl Marischal, during a time of significant political upheaval in Europe. Keith was a prominent Jacobite, deeply involved in the attempts to restore the Stuart monarchy, and his life was marked by exile and political intrigue. The painting presents Keith in a heroic pose, clad in armor, but it's the inclusion of a Black servant that demands our attention. This figure, rendered in a subservient position, speaks volumes about the racial hierarchies and the economics of slavery deeply embedded within 18th-century European society. While Keith's personal views on slavery are not explicitly documented, the portrait undeniably reflects the era's widespread acceptance of racial inequality as part of the social order. Costanzi's portrait serves not only as a representation of individual identity, but as a cultural artifact, revealing the complex interplay of power, race, and representation. It encourages us to reflect on the legacies of colonialism and the ways in which art can both perpetuate and challenge prevailing social norms.