Charles Sydney Hopkinson (1869-1962) 1958

Editor: Here we have Pietro Pezzati's portrait of Charles Sydney Hopkinson. It seems to capture a very specific type of turn-of-the-century intellectual. How would you interpret this work in the context of portraiture at that time? Curator: It speaks to the democratization of portraiture. While traditionally reserved for nobility, portraiture increasingly included academics and professionals like Hopkinson. This shift reflects a broader social change where intellectual achievement gained prominence. What does this suggest about the values of the institutions commissioning these portraits? Editor: Perhaps that they were trying to align themselves with a new elite based on knowledge. I'd never considered that before! Curator: Indeed. This artwork serves as a mirror reflecting those evolving social values. Seeing it that way, what do we make of Pezzati's austere style?