Portret van John Barnard 1754

Editor: This engraving from 1754 by James McArdell is titled "Portret van John Barnard" and it's currently held at the Rijksmuseum. It strikes me as incredibly formal, even a little imposing. What layers of meaning or context are embedded in this kind of image? Curator: Well, this portrait exists within a very specific social and political context. Consider the inscription: it’s addressed "To the Worthy Liverymen of the City of London". What does that tell you about the intended audience and purpose of the image? Editor: That it was aimed at a particular group within London society… a group important to John Barnard? Was he trying to curry favour? Curator: Precisely. Barnard was a prominent politician. This print served as a form of visual campaigning. Images like this circulated widely and helped shape public perception of individuals. It links his persona to this powerful organization within the city. The clothing itself also transmits a sign of belonging. How do you think its public display and circulation might have impacted his political career? Editor: So, it's about carefully constructing an image that would resonate with a specific, influential demographic and making his image available to be broadly displayed, cementing him in their minds. Curator: Exactly. Think about the institution of portraiture at the time. It wasn’t just about likeness; it was about projecting power, virtue, and belonging to a specific group. McArdell, as the engraver, was playing a key role in shaping that political narrative through visual culture. How museums choose to display or contextualize artworks like this now influences how we understand it today. What might a contemporary viewer, unfamiliar with 18th-century London politics, miss if they saw this portrait without additional information? Editor: I'd say the very specific political appeal, and how the art itself, the portrait and printing, become tools in shaping political narratives and reputations. It shifts my perspective entirely! Curator: Absolutely. Understanding the historical and social forces at play transforms how we view a seemingly simple portrait.