The Reverend Canon Boyce 1917

Julian Ashton made this portrait of The Reverend Canon Boyce, but we don’t know when. The dominant dark hues and soft brushstrokes pull you into a contemplative space, don't they? I can just imagine Ashton in his studio, squinting at his subject, trying to capture not just Boyce’s likeness but something of his essence. The paint seems thinly applied, almost like a wash, creating a smooth surface that glows subtly. Look at the way Ashton renders the hands, so relaxed and yet full of character. There's this beautiful balance between precision and suggestion. Ashton was part of a broader movement interested in capturing real life and real people, much like his contemporaries. I think of painters like Eakins, for example. They all talked to one another across time, inspiring each other, and wrestling with the same questions about how painting can communicate something profound about being human. In the end, it’s this conversation that keeps art alive.