Portrait of Robert Collins 

Lemuel Francis Abbott’s “Portrait of Robert Collins” presents us with a gentleman in late 18th century England, a society deeply structured by class and profession. This portrait’s visual language speaks volumes about the sitter's status. The oval frame, the dark coat, and the powdered wig were conventions of the time for depicting men of importance. Looking closer, the quality of the linen in his cravat subtly signals wealth, as does the employment of an artist like Abbott, who enjoyed royal patronage and was known for his portraits of naval officers. The Royal Academy, the dominant art institution of the period, encouraged portraiture as a way to promote social ideals. Patrons were keen to display their importance and taste. The historian uses sources such as letters, financial records, and exhibition catalogs to understand the negotiations between artist, institution, and sitter. In this way, we reveal the complex social dance embedded in the painted surface.