The Vernet Family 1806

Editor: Here we have John Trumbull's "The Vernet Family," painted in 1806. It's an oil on canvas, and it strikes me as a very formal, almost stoic depiction of domestic life. What are your thoughts when you look at this piece? Curator: As a materialist, I find myself drawn to the details of production inherent in this portrait. Look at the woman's dress, its probable fabric and dye reflecting both global trade routes and emerging textile industries. Editor: So, you see beyond just the family depiction, to the resources needed to create the scene itself? Curator: Exactly. And consider Trumbull’s technique. How did his choices of pigment, ground, and brushstrokes reinforce social hierarchies or contribute to art’s changing economic value? The father's dark jacket represents somber and austere sensibility, while the light coloring in the baby’s dress represents innocence. These choices elevate, reinforce ideas that benefit the rich people. Editor: That’s a really interesting point. I hadn't thought about the materials in terms of their cultural implications. Curator: Furthermore, the work would have involved labour. Whose labour made it possible? Where were these items from, who acquired them? These are all ways to examine art that expand who gets considered "important" when analyzing such things. What are the markers of success represented in their material display, and how accessible was this to Trumbull’s contemporary audience? Editor: It gives you a whole different appreciation, thinking about the unseen labor and resources embedded in the image. Curator: Precisely! Considering art this way acknowledges the full complexity of its creation and consumption. Editor: I learned to dig a lot deeper with just a change in my perspective on this type of art! Thanks!