Thomas, Lord Fairfax 1738

Editor: This is "Thomas, Lord Fairfax" by Jacobus Houbraken, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. It looks like an engraving, with incredible detail. The mood is quite serious, befitting a Lord in armor. What strikes you most about this portrait? Curator: Oh, the elaborate frame within the print! It's practically bursting with symbolism. Notice the battle scene below Fairfax’s stern gaze, juxtaposed with the swirling ornamentation. It’s as if Houbraken is saying, "Here's a warrior, but also a man of his time, caught in a dance of power and aesthetics." What do you make of the oval shape? Editor: I guess it makes him seem... contained? Like a specimen, maybe? Curator: Precisely! It's a way of framing history, of presenting Fairfax as a figure both grand and… somehow, manageable. I'll be pondering that one a while! Editor: Absolutely! It’s more than just a portrait; it's a statement.