Richard Graves c. 18th century

Editor: Here we have George Vertue's portrait of Richard Graves. The details in this engraving are stunning. What do you make of the book and his intense gaze? Curator: Note the open book labeled "Lex Humana." This references earthly or civil law, appropriate for a Bencher of Lincoln's Inn. The gaze, while intense, could signal wisdom and authority. The book and gaze together signify a man of knowledge and the law. Editor: So, it's not just a portrait but a statement about his role and status? Curator: Precisely! Consider how visual symbols such as these communicated power and identity within 17th-century society. Editor: I see it now. It makes the portrait so much more informative. Curator: Indeed. We can discern so much about the sitter's world through these carefully chosen emblems.