Portrait of a Man in a Fur Cap, Three-Quarters to Right 

Curator: This is John Hamilton Mortimer’s, “Portrait of a Man in a Fur Cap, Three-Quarters to Right”, now held in the Tate Collections. Editor: What strikes me immediately is the intense cross-hatching, giving the figure a weighty, almost brooding presence. Curator: Mortimer was working in a period increasingly fascinated with individual character and the rise of portraiture as a status symbol. The fur cap itself speaks to notions of rustic virtue. Editor: It’s also a symbol of warmth and protection, isn't it? Fur speaks to a primal connection with nature and survival. The man’s gaze seems almost defiant, yet vulnerable. Curator: Yes, and during this time, there was growing interest in physiognomy, the belief that one’s character could be read in their features. Editor: Fascinating how an artist captures not only likeness but also prevailing cultural beliefs of an era. Curator: Indeed, it gives us a glimpse into the socio-cultural landscape of 18th-century England.