John Dart 1769 - 1774

Curator: Okay, let's dive in. Editor: We're looking at "John Dart," an oil painting by Jeremiah Theus, dated between 1769 and 1774. The subject's ornate blue jacket really stands out. It almost feels theatrical, doesn’t it? What can you tell me about its significance? Curator: Absolutely, it is theatrical, isn’t it? The piece makes me consider the social function of portraiture during that era. The clothing isn't simply a detail; it signifies wealth, status, and participation in specific power structures. This work also makes me wonder who John Dart was in relation to Theus himself. What positionality did each inhabit in 18th-century colonial society? How did this affect the process and outcome of this portrait? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't fully considered. The jacket as a marker of social standing... What about the Baroque influence? Is that contributing to this portrayal of power? Curator: The Baroque style certainly adds to the overall effect, imbuing the portrait with a sense of grandeur and drama, yet I wonder if the stiffness is related to something else entirely. Consider this work was made around the time leading up to the Revolutionary War. Theus painted mainly elite members of colonial society. How does this socio-historical context frame our interpretation? Should we look at it differently if Dart had been painted by someone other than Theus, for example? Editor: It's interesting how political and historical context shapes a portrait, like "John Dart." I hadn’t previously viewed the jacket or stiffness as anything but stylistic choice. I’ll be looking more closely now and trying to see that in the paintings. Curator: And I'm keen to think about Theus in context with colonial America!