Henry Bromfield Rogers (1802-1887), after Sarah Wyman Whitman (1842-1904) 1902

Editor: This is a portrait of Henry Bromfield Rogers, painted by Marie Danforth Page, after Sarah Wyman Whitman. It's striking how the figure emerges from such deep shadow. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It whispers of the quiet dignity, perhaps even a touch of melancholy, don't you think? The artist really captures something of the sitter's inner world, using light to carve out his features from the darkness. It's almost theatrical, like a spotlight on a stage. How does the dark background affect your viewing? Editor: It makes him seem very isolated, thoughtful. Like he's carrying a lot of history with him. I hadn't really thought of the staging aspect before. Curator: Exactly! And that sense of history connects us, too, to past ways of seeing. It’s funny how a face from so long ago can still spark recognition.