Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick (1735-1806) c. 1787

Curator: The work before us is a portrait of Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick, crafted by Wedgwood. It's a delicate rendering, isn't it? Editor: Indeed. It feels austere, almost ghostly, this white figure emerging from the darker background. The starkness emphasizes his profile. Curator: Wedgwood's portraits, often done in jasperware, became incredibly popular for their Neoclassical associations. Think of the revival of classical ideals, connecting powerful figures with a lineage of leadership. Editor: Jasperware is fascinating—the meticulous process of mixing clays and minerals, the firing, the labor involved to create these subtle gradations in relief... it’s a testament to industrial artistry of the period. Curator: Precisely. And Brunswick, a military figure, gains a certain timelessness, a heroic quality almost, through this classical style and the enduring nature of the material. Editor: Yes, this little portrait immortalizes Brunswick, but it also points to the economic and social conditions of its making. Curator: It’s a compelling glimpse into how images shaped perceptions of power. Editor: And how material production underpinned those perceptions.