Portrait of Sir Wyndham Knatchbull-Wyndham 1758 - 1759

Pompeo Batoni painted Sir Wyndham Knatchbull-Wyndham, presumably in Rome, towards the end of the 18th century. It speaks to the tradition of the Grand Tour, and the social importance of wealthy young Englishmen visiting Italy to acquire cultural capital. Here, the trappings of classical antiquity – the architecture, the bust – combine with the man’s fashionable clothing, and the eager dog at his side, to create an image of refined gentility. The pose, and the setting, were typical of Batoni, who made a career out of flattering young aristocrats such as Wyndham. This was an industry, tied into the rituals and institutions of the British upper classes. To understand it better, we might research Wyndham's family history, looking at records of his travels, and documents relating to the commissioning of the portrait. Ultimately, such paintings remind us that art is often bound up with social status and economic power.