Portrait of Lionel Sackville, 1st Duke of Dorset 

Joshua Reynolds painted this portrait of Lionel Sackville, the 1st Duke of Dorset, using oil on canvas. The materials themselves are traditional, yet the way Reynolds handled them speaks volumes. Oil paint, a versatile medium, allowed him to build up layers, creating rich textures. Notice the Duke’s velvety robe and the delicate lace at his wrist; these are rendered with a skilled hand, layering light and shadow to give a tangible sense of depth. But let's consider the social context. Reynolds was a master of self-promotion, and portraiture in this era wasn't just about capturing a likeness. It was about broadcasting wealth, status, and power. Every brushstroke served to elevate the Duke, reinforcing the social hierarchy of the time. The labor involved, both in producing the painting and in extracting the raw materials for the pigments, underscores the economic realities that underpinned aristocratic life. The painting becomes not just an image, but a material record of a specific time and place.