John Horne Tooke (1736-1812) 1793

Editor: Here we have a portrait of John Horne Tooke, a rather severe gentleman rendered by James Tassie. It's diminutive in size, just a few inches, and looks almost like a coin. I wonder, what do you see in this piece? Curator: It’s intriguing, isn’t it? I am immediately drawn to the precision, the sheer detail Tassie achieves on such a small scale. There is an almost defiant expression on Tooke's face, wouldn't you agree? The piece feels like a statement about power and intellect. What does it evoke in you? Editor: I see your point about the precision and the subtle defiance. I hadn’t really picked up on that before. Curator: Exactly. Isn't it amazing how a tiny artwork can hold so much? I'm left wondering about Tooke's story. Editor: Me too! It makes you want to dig a little deeper into history.