Charles James Fox c. 18th century

Editor: Here we have John Jones’s portrait of Charles James Fox. I’m immediately struck by the sharp contrast between light and shadow, and how Fox seems to emerge from the darkness. What story do you think this portrait tells? Curator: I see a strategic attempt to frame Fox, a Whig politician, as an intellectual and a man of the people. The darkness, for instance, might symbolize the opaqueness of political power, against which Fox positions himself. Consider his relaxed pose and the papers at his hand. What do they suggest to you about his role in society? Editor: Perhaps they show him as a man of action, engaged with the issues of the day. Curator: Precisely. It also reminds us that portraiture in this period served to solidify social and political identities. Reflect on who was typically represented in such a manner and the message it conveyed about power and privilege. Editor: This makes me realize how much these portraits were about constructing an image. Thanks for illuminating that!