Elizabeth, Countess of Hopetoun (d. 1793) 1791

Curator: Isn't this relief portrait of Elizabeth, Countess of Hopetoun, so very poised and serene? James Tassie captured her essence perfectly, I think. Editor: It's ghostly, almost, in its monochrome. I'm intrigued by how such detail can be rendered on such a small scale – it's only about 10 cm tall. What material is this exactly? Curator: It’s made of enamel paste, which Tassie was quite famous for. He meticulously built up the layers to create this cameo-like effect. I find it remarkable how he achieved such delicate shading. Editor: Enamel paste! That’s fascinating. It speaks to the labor involved, carefully grinding and mixing materials to get that pristine white. It also elevates enamel paste into a fine art form. Curator: Absolutely, it transforms the everyday into something truly special, a tangible fragment of history. Editor: I agree, it really gets you thinking about artistry and the transformative power of process, and how it connects us to the past.