William Rastall 1764

Joseph Wright of Derby painted this portrait of William Rastall sometime in the late 18th century. Wright, who spent his career in the English Midlands, was known for his paintings that captured the spirit of the Enlightenment, and the burgeoning Industrial Revolution. Young William's accoutrements speak volumes about his class and status. His dark velvet suit and delicate ruffled collar contrast sharply with the open book on the table. His hand rests on an illustration of what looks to be a landscape. The image of the natural world suggests a controlled and picturesque view, as opposed to the gritty realities of industrial England. Portraits like this are often exercises in power and class. They present the subject as both an individual and a symbol of the socio-economic forces at play. Although William is just a child, Wright renders him as a figure of contemplation and intellectual promise. This is as much a statement about the Rastall family, as it is about young William himself.