Adam Duncan, Admiral Viscount Duncan (1731-1804) 1797

Curator: James Tassie crafted this likeness of Adam Duncan, Admiral Viscount Duncan, during the late 18th century. Editor: There's something very stoic and unyielding about that profile. It feels classically heroic, like a figure from a Roman coin. Curator: Indeed. Tassie's work often evokes classical forms, drawing upon a visual language of power and authority. The crisp white of the relief against the darker ground emphasizes that sense of permanence and virtue. Editor: But even in its stillness, you see a hint of vulnerability, a fleeting expression that reminds you he was human. That contrast is what makes it so compelling. Curator: And perhaps why Tassie's portrait endures, capturing not just the image of a great leader, but also a trace of the man within. Editor: It's a powerful little window into a world of admirals and empires. I'm strangely moved.