David Hume (1711-1776) c. 1775

Editor: Here we have James Tassie's relief portrait of David Hume. It has a stoic, almost classical feel to it. What do you see in this cameo? Curator: Note the profile view, a visual trope connecting Hume to a lineage of philosophers and leaders immortalized in antiquity. The cameo, in its intimate scale, was often worn or displayed in domestic settings. What memories or ideals did it evoke? Editor: It’s interesting how such a small object can carry so much cultural weight. Curator: Exactly! It acted as a portable monument, a constant reminder of Hume's ideas, shaping the visual landscape and intellectual life of its time. Editor: I hadn't considered the role of everyday objects in shaping cultural memory. Curator: Consider how these miniature portraits acted as anchors for philosophical and cultural continuity.