Portret van Anthony Ashley Cooper, zevende graaf van Shaftesbury before 1895

This is a photographic portrait of Anthony Ashley Cooper, the seventh Earl of Shaftesbury, likely made in England during the late 19th century. It’s found within the pages of a book documenting a meeting of the Young Men's Christian Association, or YMCA. Shaftesbury was a prominent social reformer, deeply involved in philanthropic work and religious causes. Here, the image isn't simply a representation of an individual, but a visual endorsement connecting Shaftesbury's reputation to the values of the YMCA. The presence of the portrait within a record of this meeting highlights the cultural significance of charitable organizations in Victorian England. The YMCA, with its global reach, embodies the spirit of Christian activism and social improvement characteristic of the era. To fully understand this image, one might explore archives of Victorian social reform movements, publications of the YMCA, and biographies of key figures like Shaftesbury. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.