Portrait of Alexander, 4th Duke of Gordon 1764

Pompeo Batoni painted this portrait of Alexander, the 4th Duke of Gordon, most likely during the Duke’s Grand Tour, the educational trip of Europe undertaken by young men of means, in the 18th century. The portrait shows a man in command of his estate; the Duke is depicted in his hunting coat, a rifle in hand, a horse by his side and hunting dogs at his feet, with slain deer to complete the image. The portrait subtly communicates the social and political power of the British aristocracy at this time. Land ownership was intimately linked to political power. To better understand the context of this painting, researchers consult estate papers, travel journals and other records that reveal the complex relationships between art, power, and social identity in 18th-century Britain. The Grand Tour was an established part of upper class education and its cultural norms dictated which artists prospered and which fell behind.