John Lake (1624-1689) 1670

Mary Beale painted this portrait of John Lake in the late 17th century, using oil on canvas. Beale was one of the first professional female painters in England, so her choice of this medium connects her to the established tradition of European painting, but also marks a break from it, since it was predominantly a male profession. The character of oil paint – its viscosity, its capacity to be layered and blended – gives this portrait its rich tonality and sense of depth. Beale used this to great effect, particularly in rendering the fine details of Lake's clothing. Each layer required a certain amount of labor and care to produce. Consider the social context: Beale had to compete in a male-dominated art world and she likely had to negotiate for commissions and prices differently.