John Elder, WS, Law Agent to the Royal Scottish Academy 

George Harvey painted this portrait of John Elder, WS, Law Agent to the Royal Scottish Academy at an unknown date. Harvey, a Scottish painter, captured in oils the likeness of a man who, as a Writer to the Signet, would have been part of Scotland’s legal elite. Elder's serious gaze and formal attire speak to the social conventions of the time. As a law agent for the Royal Scottish Academy, he likely played a role in shaping the cultural landscape of 19th-century Scotland. The darkness of the background emphasizes the details of Elder’s face and attire, symbolizing the gravity associated with his profession. Harvey's portrait invites us to consider the relationship between individual identity and professional role. It also encourages us to reflect on the ways in which the legal and artistic spheres intersected in shaping Scottish society.