Portrait of a Gentleman 1832 - 1835

Alfred Thomas Agate painted this "Portrait of a Gentleman" in the 1800s with watercolor on ivory, encased in gold. The smooth, reflective surface of the ivory would have allowed Agate to achieve remarkable detail. This wasn't just a painting; it was a miniature, an intimate object meant to be held close. We can imagine the labor involved in grinding pigments, preparing the ivory support, and meticulously applying each layer of paint. The use of gold elevates the work, but it's important to remember where that gold came from. The story of extraction from the earth, of indigenous labor, and of the economic systems that made such precious materials available, are all part of the picture. By considering the materials and processes of this portrait, we understand it not just as an image, but also as a product of its time, embedded in complex networks of labor, trade, and value.