Frederick North, Later Fifth Earl of Guilford, in Rome 1790

Hugh Douglas Hamilton crafted this pastel portrait of Frederick North, later Fifth Earl of Guilford, likely during his time in Rome. Pastels – ground pigments mixed with a binder into sticks – offered artists of the era a portable and immediate medium. Here, the powdery softness of pastel lends itself particularly well to the subtle gradations of skin tone and the delicate rendering of fabrics. Hamilton coaxes a range of textures from the medium, from the smooth surface of North's jacket to the rough, crumbling stones behind him. Consider the labor involved: the meticulous layering of pigment, the careful blending of colors, and the skilled hand required to capture the likeness of the sitter. Pastel portraits like these existed within a market economy, where artistic skill translated into social capital for both artist and patron. Ultimately, understanding the material and the making of this portrait allows us to appreciate the intersection of artistic skill, social status, and the burgeoning art market of the 18th century.