Dimensions: support: 1055 x 1295 mm frame: 1235 x 1475 x 88 mm
Copyright: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Editor: So, this is Joseph Highmore's "Mr Oldham and his Guests," from the 1730s. The men seem to be enjoying each other's company, maybe a bit too much. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a snapshot of early 18th-century masculinity and class. Note the accoutrements of leisure—the wine, the pipe, the implied conversation. It speaks to a very specific, privileged experience, but who benefits, and at whose expense? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't thought about it in terms of privilege. Curator: Consider the historical context; colonial trade enriched Britain, creating this leisure class. Do you see any visual cues suggesting this? Editor: Maybe the richness of the colours? It does seem to hint at acquired wealth. Thanks, this has really given me a lot to consider. Curator: Indeed. It's crucial to consider these elements and their implication in art history.
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http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/highmore-mr-oldham-and-his-guests-n05864
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This informal group portrait was commissioned by Nathaniel Oldham to commemorate a dinner party at his home. Oldham came home from hunting so late that the friends he had invited to dinner ate without him. He found them relaxing with a bowl of hot wine. Oldham is shown on the far left. In the centre, holding a pipe, is a neighbouring farmer. His friend, a local school master, holds a blue and white bowl. Between them, wearing a red velvet cap, is Joseph Highmore himself, who was an old friend of Oldham. Gallery label, September 2024
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