John Henderson 

Thomas Gainsborough's portrait of John Henderson captures the sitter in oil with a soft, diffused light that gently models the face. Henderson’s gaze is directed slightly off to the side, suggesting a mind engaged in thought, an effect enhanced by the book held in his left hand and the subtly raised index finger of his right. Gainsborough’s formal choices here subtly communicate Henderson’s intellectual disposition. The composition, for instance, is structured to emphasize the sitter’s upper body and head, drawing our attention to his expressive face and the gestures of his hands. Color functions to direct the viewer’s eye, with the vibrant red collar providing a focal point that is framed by the darker tones of his coat and the background. The overall effect is one of dynamic elegance, achieved through sophisticated formal means. Gainsborough uses the conventions of portraiture to represent something of Henderson’s inner character.