Young Man in a Fawn Coat c. 1772 - 1773

Curator: Tilly Kettle's "Young Man in a Fawn Coat," currently residing at the Tate, presents a rather dashing figure, don't you think? Editor: Indeed. The composition, dominated by neutral tones and subtle gradations of light, evokes a sense of quiet introspection. There's a certain stillness, almost a melancholy, that emanates from the canvas. Curator: Absolutely, there is also a quiet rebellion there, though. The way the light catches his eye--he's holding something back, maybe a bit of mischief. The fawn coat itself, slightly rumpled, speaks volumes, doesn't it? Not overly concerned with appearances, this chap. Editor: Precisely. The materiality of the paint, applied with delicate brushstrokes, softens the rigid formality typically associated with portraiture of this era, and it is rather effective. Curator: It makes you wonder what tales he could tell! Editor: One finds oneself pondering the social and artistic conventions Kettle both embraced and subtly challenged. An intriguing work, indeed.