Samuel Chase c. 1791

Curator: Here we have John Trumbull's pencil drawing of Samuel Chase, dating back to around 1791. Editor: It's quite stark, isn’t it? Almost feels like a ghost captured on paper, those light strokes giving him a spectral presence. Curator: Spectral is a great word. I immediately think about the material limitations in creating a portrait during that era. Trumbull, a prominent figure in his own right, uses the humble pencil to fix Chase’s likeness, a US Supreme Court Justice and signer of the Declaration of Independence. What we see is not only a portrait, but also an intimate look into the workshopping behind it. Editor: Exactly! Chase, through the lens of history, faced impeachment trials fueled by partisan divides. The sketch, as a medium, feels so raw and accessible. It reminds us that these monumental historical figures were, first and foremost, human. Their legacies aren’t monolithic, their hands weren’t clean, but this portrait puts that humanity front and center. How different the image if cast in bronze? Curator: Right, and that distinction of immediacy extends to Trumbull’s approach, it almost feels like we are sitting in the artist’s studio, witnessing the initial charcoal marks on the paper; you could almost smell the graphite and aging parchment, experience it in person and consider the availability of artist materials such as the imported graphite and what that spoke about colonial infrastructure. This materiality of pencil allows a level of fluidity that resonates in a time rife with socio-political unease. Editor: Well put! I find the simplicity liberating. In an era defined by grand pronouncements, the subtle lines invite scrutiny; it also makes me consider Trumbull’s perspective, perhaps not a full endorsement. There’s a vulnerability on display which makes this sketch far more poignant than any elaborate declaration could have mustered. Curator: Indeed. Considering how easily available images and likenesses are today, it’s a remarkable reminder of the painstaking labor that went into capturing even the fleeting visage of public figures during that historical period. Editor: Absolutely. A small drawing that holds significant stories. Curator: It really makes you rethink the relationship between maker, subject, and the slow burn of legacy.