A Connoisseur 1795

Editor: So this is "A Connoisseur," made in 1795 by Robert Dighton. It looks like it's a coloured pencil etching and mezzotint print. It’s quite striking—the subject’s features are so exaggerated. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The distorted anatomy and pronounced coloring create a visually stimulating surface. Note the deliberate juxtaposition of textures – the ruffles of the jabot against the smooth skin, the stippling in the background versus the crisp lines of the coat. It serves to direct the viewer’s gaze. What purpose do you believe that serves? Editor: To make the viewer focus on the face? Curator: Precisely. Consider, too, the formal construction: a self-contained oval, a frame within the frame if you will. Observe how the colors amplify the subject's emotional intensity and sense of theatricality. The crimson hue on the cheeks is in striking contrast to the restrained, neoclassical style prevalent in much of the era’s portraiture. Editor: That's a helpful perspective. I initially just saw it as a funny drawing, but focusing on the composition and the contrast makes me think of it as an intentional comment on perception. Curator: Exactly! The emphasis on form and detail helps reveal that what might seem purely humorous also represents critical commentary on 18th century British society.