Sir Joseph Banks c. 1780

Anne Seymour Damer, a prominent English sculptor and member of the British aristocracy, created this wax portrait of Sir Joseph Banks, a renowned botanist and explorer, around 1780. The profile portrait, crafted in the Neoclassical style, showcases Banks's refined features and powdered wig. The work, currently housed at the Art Institute of Chicago, offers a glimpse into the portraiture of the late 18th century, a time marked by classical revival and a fascination with scientific discovery.