John Thornton Kirkland (1770-1840), after Gilbert Stuart c. 1828 - 1829

Editor: This is a portrait of John Thornton Kirkland after Gilbert Stuart, painted by J. Whitfield. The materials seem like oil on canvas. What strikes me is the book he's holding; what does it tell us about the sitter and the production of knowledge at the time? Curator: That's a great starting point! We should ask how the artist is positioning Kirkland within a specific socio-economic framework. The book signifies learning, yes, but consider its materiality. Was it mass-produced or hand-bound? Who had access to such items, and what labor went into their creation and distribution? Editor: So, it's not just about what he's reading, but the book as a commodity? I never thought of portraiture that way. Curator: Precisely. And who commissioned this portrait? Patronage is another crucial element of art's material existence. Editor: That gives me a new appreciation for how art objects participate in social structures. Thanks!