Portrait of a Young Man (Sir John Van Brugh-) c. 17th century

Curator: This is a remarkable oil-on-canvas portrait from the 17th century, currently housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The piece, attributed to Sir Godfrey Kneller, is titled "Portrait of a Young Man (Sir John Van Brugh-)." Editor: He has such a pensive look, doesn’t he? Almost melancholy. The way the light catches his face against that dark background... It’s dramatic. Curator: The portrait definitely adheres to many Baroque conventions, though in England one might describe it also as within the Academic Art style, adapted in England with its own nuances. I am interested in what the portrait reveals about class and status in this historical period, in England’s political moment following the Restoration of the monarchy. Note, if you will, the accoutrements around the sitter that display privilege— Editor: Yes, there is that performative display for sure, and notice, too, the pen and the books... Classical symbols for an intellectual, someone engaged with learning. That ruffle is quite a statement as well. A symbol of elegance and possibly a little dandyism... What do you think it all means to those who view this image over time? Curator: Such images cemented power; it created a lineage. The figure is in a moment of contemplation but aware that the painting will create lasting cultural cachet. Editor: And that awareness is interesting. He knows he is being memorialized and thus seeks to express attributes deemed virtuous or important in the collective consciousness of the era... His clothing is dark and elegant but not overwhelmingly showy. A statement about personal status, no doubt, but also of measured humility? Curator: Indeed. Portraits like this were deeply intertwined with power structures and political maneuverings of the time. We may read his clothing not as "humility" necessarily but the new modern simplicity of a commercial class supplanting the decadent attire of a waning aristocracy. Editor: Food for thought! Thanks, as always, for enriching our perceptions of such an important piece. Curator: The pleasure is all mine.