John Monso 

Pompeo Batoni made this painting of John Monso using oil paints to depict his sitter's status through the fabrics and materials surrounding him. The smooth gradations of color and tone in Monso's face and clothing testify to the skills Batoni developed through careful study and practice. Observe the sumptuous textures of the red cloak, the delicate lace at the neck, and the sheen on the satin waistcoat; each rendered with precise brushwork. Paint was expensive and required skill to apply, so commissioning a portrait was a way for the elite to signal their wealth and power. But this painting doesn't just reflect Monso's status, it also acknowledges the labor required to produce the goods that surround him, from the weaving of the fabrics to the mining of pigments used in the paint. It offers a glimpse into the global networks of trade and production that underpinned the wealth of eighteenth-century Europe. Considering materials, making, and context allows us to appreciate the full meaning of the artwork, and challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.