Major Lithgow 1791

This is a pencil drawing of Major Lithgow, made by John Trumbull around the late 18th to early 19th century. The most striking aspect is the subject's profile, a pose with a lineage stretching back to ancient coins and classical sculpture. The profile, once a symbol of power and authority in royal portraiture, is here rendered with a softer, more human touch. Consider the Roman emperors whose profiles adorned coins, projecting an image of strength and divine right. Yet here, Lithgow is presented with a subtle vulnerability. This shift reflects a broader transformation in the cultural understanding of leadership. The classical profile, rigid and aloof, has evolved into a more accessible representation, hinting at the psychological depths of the individual. It is as though the weight of history is being subtly reshaped by the currents of personal experience and emotional expression. This is how symbols are passed down.