Duke of Wellington 1818

Curator: This is François Forster's "Duke of Wellington," residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. What are your initial impressions? Editor: He looks…imposing, yet strangely vulnerable. Like a marble statue trying to blend into a forest scene. Curator: Notice how his gaze meets ours, while the natural elements create a romantic, almost theatrical, backdrop. It speaks to the power and the burden of leadership. Editor: That sword he clutches… it's as if he's both embracing it and wishing it would disappear. War is so enmeshed with personal identity here. Curator: Yes, and the composition reminds us that even the most powerful figures are shaped by the landscapes and historical forces around them. Editor: A potent reminder of how our heroes can be just as captive to their times as we are. Curator: Precisely. Forster captures that tension beautifully.