The Reverend Thomas Foxcroft (1697-1769) c. 1735 - 1745

Curator: Here we have a portrait of The Reverend Thomas Foxcroft, likely painted by a follower of John Smibert. Observe the sitter framed in the oval format. Editor: He looks so stern! Almost like he’s judging my outfit choice. The severe black robes against that pale face create quite a contrast, don’t you think? Curator: Indeed. The artist uses chiaroscuro to model Foxcroft's face, drawing our attention to his gaze and the formal aspects of the composition and the subject's social standing. Editor: It's that powdered wig, isn't it? Gives him this air of authority. I wonder what he was really like; under all that formality. Curator: The painting offers a glimpse into the social and sartorial conventions of the time. It's an intriguing intersection of aesthetics and history. Editor: Agreed. It makes you wonder about the stories hidden beneath the surface of his formal portrait.