Portret van admiraal George Anson 1835

This is Antoine Maurin's portrait of Admiral George Anson, made using lithography in the 19th century. As a print held within the Rijksmuseum collection, its position reflects the historical significance attached to both the sitter, Anson, and the medium of lithography. Anson was a celebrated figure in the British Navy, known for his circumnavigation of the globe and his reforms within the service. In this print, we see him in his naval uniform, a symbol of British power and maritime dominance during a period of intense colonial expansion. Maurin, the artist, skillfully uses the lithographic technique to capture the details of Anson's face and attire. To understand this print, a historian might explore naval history, the development of lithography, and the collecting practices of institutions like the Rijksmuseum. The meaning of art is always contingent on social and institutional context.