Dr Alfred Leslie Rowse (1903–1997) 

John Bratby painted this portrait of Dr Alfred Leslie Rowse using thick strokes of oil paint. The glasses frame the eyes, magnifying the gaze, a symbol of intellectual pursuit and clarity. The act of wearing spectacles stretches back through art history: think of Hugh de Provence by Tommaso da Modena in 1352. In that time, spectacles progressed from symbols of scholarly acumen to sophisticated fashion statements. Yet, they remain intrinsically tied to perception and knowledge. Here, Bratby captures not just the physical likeness of Rowse but also suggests the weight of wisdom accumulated over a lifetime. This is not a mere portrait but an exploration of how we perceive and immortalize intellectual prowess. This visual language speaks to our collective memory of scholars through the ages.