Thomas Tanner c. 18th century

Curator: George Vertue, active in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, created this engraving of Thomas Tanner. Editor: It has a very formal feel, almost austere, with that ornate oval frame around the subject. The tones are quite muted. Curator: Indeed. The books and heraldic symbols below Tanner speak to his scholarship and position within the church, reinforcing his intellectual and spiritual authority. Editor: It's interesting how Vertue, as the printmaker, mediates Tanner's image, controlling its distribution. The quality of the engraving would have been a signifier of status in itself. Curator: Precisely. The image becomes a vehicle for projecting power through visual means. Editor: Thinking about the economics of its production and distribution adds another layer. Who was the intended consumer, and what social circles were these images circulating in? Curator: It makes one consider the portrait's lasting power as a symbol, beyond the immediate context of its creation. Editor: Right. It's about the exchange of materials, labor, and ideas across social strata, ultimately solidifying historical narratives.