William Pitt (1759-1806) c. 1787

Editor: Here we have a cameo of "William Pitt" by Josiah Wedgwood. He looks so serious, almost burdened, don't you think? How do you interpret this work? Curator: It's intriguing, isn't it? Wedgwood was quite the innovator. He captured not just likeness but the weight of leadership, I imagine. Tell me, what does the monochrome palette evoke for you? Editor: A sense of timelessness, maybe? Or… austerity? But what would someone have done with such a small portrait? Curator: Ah, excellent question! It was probably a personal keepsake, a symbol of admiration perhaps. Think of it as an 18th-century profile picture, only much more… permanent. Editor: So, like a political badge? Curator: Precisely! A pocket-sized statement. The scale adds a layer of intimacy, don’t you think? I wonder, if Pitt could see it, what he’d say? Editor: I never thought about portraits this way before! Thanks! Curator: The pleasure was all mine. Let's carry on.