Richard Yates 1793 - 1794

Gilbert Stuart painted this portrait of Richard Yates in the late 18th or early 19th century. Yates is depicted holding letters, seated at a desk with writing implements, symbols of intellect and commerce. Consider the act of writing itself. Throughout history, literacy and the creation of texts have been powerful tools, once reserved for the elite, and now democratized. From ancient scribes to modern-day authors, the written word has bridged temporal gaps and facilitated communication. The quill and inkwell, instruments of creation, evoke a sense of scholarly activity and intellectual engagement. The act of holding letters suggests both power and vulnerability, representing a connection to others and the weight of communication. Such an image echoes through time, recurring in countless depictions of statesmen, scholars, and merchants, each carrying the hopes and anxieties of their era. This is an image we have seen before, and will see again.