Portrait of a Gentleman 1790 - 1800

Editor: Here we have "Portrait of a Gentleman," made sometime between 1790 and 1800. It's unsigned but has been attributed to William Verstille. It looks like it was created with painting, and its frame has such meticulous decoration. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: Well, considering its creation within a late 18th-century context, I find myself focusing on the socio-economic implications embedded in its materiality and the mode of its production. Notice how the presumed affluence of the sitter—indicated by his clothing, the refined silver frame, and the commission of such an intimate, personal object—speaks volumes about wealth disparity at the time. The means by which Verstille himself would have secured pigments, prepared the painting surface, and even the labor of assistants if he had any, interests me far more than merely the artistry on display. Editor: That's fascinating. So, you're saying the *how* it was made is more important than the *what* it depicts? Curator: Precisely. Think about the exploitation of resources and labor needed to produce the pigments. What kind of world made possible the consumption of those resources to produce an art object whose primary purpose seems to have been the celebration of individual wealth and status? Even the stylistic conventions – this miniaturized portraiture – represent a carefully-constructed display of identity and a mode of consumption. Editor: That makes me consider portraiture in a new way, one I had not previously reflected upon. What are your final thoughts on this miniature? Curator: Thinking about such exquisite details, especially with the limitations of material acquisition and production during this historical context, reminds us of both the privileges afforded to some, as well as the hard work done by laborers in the arts and beyond during this era.