The Hon. Alicia Herbert as a Child 1795

John Hoppner’s “The Hon. Alicia Herbert as a Child” captures a privileged child of the late 18th century in oil on canvas. Paintings like this one served an important function, solidifying social status. The quality of the pigment was paramount. To achieve the luminosity seen here, Hoppner would have used expensive, finely ground materials like lead white, natural ultramarine made from lapis lazuli, and vermilion derived from mercury sulfide. The way these materials are applied, in thin glazes, shows off the artist's mastery and the sitter's wealth. Of course, the cost of the canvas, the brushes, and the artist’s time would have also been considerable, reflecting the considerable labor required. This wasn't just art; it was a carefully constructed image, meant to communicate affluence and power, made possible by global trade and colonial extraction. So, as you look at this painting, consider not just the charming subject, but the complex economic and social structures that made its creation possible.