James Graham, Marquis of Montrose 1740

Curator: Jacobus Houbraken’s engraving presents James Graham, Marquis of Montrose, framed by laurel and martial imagery. Editor: I'm immediately struck by the contrast—the softness of his face against the stern, dark armor. It gives him a rather melancholic air. Curator: The armor is deliberate. Graham led Royalist forces in Scotland during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. This portrait romanticizes his military achievements. Editor: And the laurel wreath and battle scene further underscore that romanticizing. But it's the fine detail of the engraving that captivates; look at the textures. Curator: Right, those textures speak to the print's circulation amongst elites, reinforcing class hierarchies through portraiture. Editor: I see it as a delicate dance of light and shadow, a study in contrasts beyond just his military role. Curator: Perhaps. Either way, it's a powerful image meant to evoke Graham’s legacy.