Captain John Garish 1737

John Smibert painted this oil on canvas portrait of Captain John Garish sometime in the first half of the 18th century. Garish’s confident gaze and the trappings of wealth speak to the social and economic conditions of colonial America. Smibert was a British-trained artist who emigrated to the colonies, where he played a key role in establishing a visual culture tied to notions of gentility and social status. The portrait itself signifies Garish’s position within the mercantile class. His clothing, wig, and pose are all visual codes linked to British identity and economic power. In a society still largely defined by religious and communal values, the portrait represents a rising emphasis on individual achievement and material success. To understand this work more fully, we might research the history of portraiture in colonial America, the social role of merchants and the British empire's impact on the colonies. The meaning of this portrait is entwined with the complex social and institutional history of its time.