Dr John Heath 1779

Editor: Here we have Thomas Hickey's "Dr John Heath," held at the Tate. The smooth blending creates an almost dreamlike quality. How do you interpret the visual message of this portrait? Curator: Consider the context. Portraiture like this served the crucial function of visually legitimizing social status. This is less about individual likeness and more about constructing an ideal, publicly acceptable image. Does knowing this change your perception? Editor: It does make me think about who commissioned this portrait, and for what purpose. I see it now as a carefully constructed image of respectability. Curator: Exactly. And by understanding the social role of portraits at the time, we can appreciate its historical significance. Editor: I hadn't thought about portraits as having a social function. It gives me a new perspective.