Col. D. Campbell 1791

J.F. Clemens created this portrait of Col. D. Campbell with pencil. Observe the sitter’s gaze, directed slightly upwards and to the side, suggesting a moment of contemplation. This upward glance has ancient roots. In antiquity, figures gazing upwards often sought divine inspiration, evident in countless religious icons from the Renaissance onward. Yet, here, in the late 18th century, the context shifts. Campbell's gaze might still hint at higher ideals, but it's now filtered through the Enlightenment’s emphasis on reason and personal reflection. The expression embodies a state of intellectual curiosity, resonating with the era’s focus on humanism and individual thought. The image captures not just a likeness, but the dawn of a new way of thinking, where inner thought becomes as crucial as external action.