Rear-Admiral Charles Inglis 1783

Henry Raeburn painted Rear-Admiral Charles Inglis, immortalizing a figure of authority against a turbulent seascape. Raeburn, as a portraitist in Edinburgh, existed within a society that was structured by class and defined by Britain's naval power. This portrait stages Inglis as a man in command, an officer in the British Royal Navy who would have participated in Britain's colonial and trade ambitions. In his formal attire, Inglis embodies the values of duty and honor which were required to maintain Britain's dominance in the world. The stormy sea that stretches behind him seems to mirror the trials faced by such men. Yet, this backdrop also hints at the human cost of expansionism, and at the environmental impact of maritime activity. We can imagine what it meant to be such a man during this era, and reflect upon both the triumphs and the tragedies embedded in this representation of power and status.