James Grahame (1790-1842) 1843

Editor: Here we have George Peter's portrait of James Grahame, painted sometime after Grahame’s death in 1842. The subject has such a solemn presence! What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: Well, he *does* look rather serious, doesn't he? But I see someone self-possessed, comfortable in his own skin. Peter painted this posthumously; a bit of artistic license is expected, wouldn’t you say? Editor: Maybe so. It’s hard to know the sitter's true essence. Curator: Perhaps Peter aimed to capture Grahame's lasting impact rather than a fleeting expression. Food for thought, eh? Editor: Absolutely. It makes you wonder about the stories behind these formal portraits.