Captain Joseph Trevitt Pike (1785-1862) c. 1812

Curator: This is a miniature portrait of Captain Joseph Trevitt Pike, who lived from 1785 to 1862. It's attributed to Joseph Wood. Editor: The most striking aspect is the gentleman’s gaze. He possesses a directness, softened only by the diminutive scale. Curator: Precisely! And the artist’s meticulous brushwork creates a captivatingly realistic texture, considering its petite dimensions – only 8.5 by 7 cm. Editor: Notice how the oval frame and his own face create a sense of enclosure. It draws attention to the sitter's personality. Curator: I wonder what Captain Pike thought when he commissioned this piece. Did he see himself as a figure to be remembered? Editor: Perhaps. Or maybe he was just a man who wanted to capture a moment, a feeling of strength. Curator: Whatever the reason, it makes you consider what it meant to be portrayed in such an intimate scale. Editor: It’s a beautiful little time capsule, holding a fragment of a life.