Portrait of Benjamin Mocatta (1802–1865) 1802 - 1855

Jean-Baptiste Isabey rendered this delicate watercolor portrait of Benjamin Mocatta on paper. During Isabey's time, portraiture was deeply intertwined with social status. As a sought-after artist among European elites, Isabey's portraits often depicted subjects in ways that emphasized their affluence and standing. Yet, in this image of Mocatta, the sitter's closed eyes suggest a moment of introspection, offering us a glimpse beyond the sitter's societal role. Benjamin Mocatta belonged to a prominent Sephardic Jewish family with connections to finance and the arts, and it is this heritage that infuses the work with added layers of meaning, subtly hinting at the complexities of identity and belonging in 19th century Europe. Isabey’s choice to capture Mocatta in such a restful state invites us to contemplate the personal stories and inner lives of individuals who existed within specific historical contexts.