Cornelius Conway Felton (1807-1862), Eliot Professor of Greek Literature, later, President of Harvard University, 1860-1862 c. 1858

Curator: Looking at this portrait, I am struck by the way light seems to emanate from within, creating a sense of quiet contemplation. Editor: Indeed. This is a portrait of Cornelius Conway Felton by John Adams Whipple, likely taken between 1860 and 1862. Felton, Eliot Professor of Greek Literature, also became President of Harvard University during this period. Curator: His spectacles and neatly knotted tie serve as potent symbols of intellectual rigor and social standing, don't they? The oval format gives it an almost classical feel. Editor: Absolutely, there's a deliberate construction of identity here. This was a time of great social change and academic discourse, especially in institutions like Harvard. What narratives of power and privilege are subtly reinforced through this image? Curator: The sepia tones enhance the sense of timelessness, giving Felton an almost iconic quality. It's a powerful visual encoding of respectability. Editor: It prompts us to ask: who gets remembered, and how? Food for thought. Curator: Indeed.