Charles William Eliot (1834-1926) 1909

Curator: Here we have Denman Waldo Ross's portrait of Charles William Eliot, painted with oil on canvas. It now resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's striking how the figure emerges from such deep shadows, almost swallowed by them. What's he holding? Curator: That would be a scroll, a symbol of his academic achievements, perhaps? Ross clearly wanted to convey Eliot's intellectual gravitas. Editor: I'm curious about the material choices. The stark contrast highlights the labor of portraiture itself, the layers and process needed to build such a somber image of power. Curator: Yes, and there is a subtle warmth in his face amidst the darkness, suggesting Ross saw a certain humanity in Eliot. Editor: Indeed, this is a work where technique and subject create a particular mood. A study of the art of academic power. Curator: It leaves us pondering on the nature of legacy and how we wish to be seen, doesn't it?