Portrait of William Makepiece Thackery c. 19th century

This small portrait of William Makepeace Thackeray was made with graphite on paper by William B. Closson, an American artist, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Thackeray was a famous English novelist, so this portrait speaks to the way that cultural capital crosses national borders. Even though it was made by an American, its subject was a British literary figure. This speaks to the cultural exchange between the United States and England, and perhaps even a sense of American cultural inferiority at this time. The portrait itself is rather small, and the figure is set against a large white background. This, together with the light shading, creates a sense of distance and reverence. To understand this piece better, it would be helpful to know more about the context in which it was made. Was Closson commissioned to make it? Was it intended for a book or magazine? These questions would help us understand the social forces that shaped its production and reception.