17 and 18th Centuries

17 and 18th Centuries

Portraying wealth or status in a portrait.

Through researching portraits dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries it has been interesting to find that there were numerous links and clear influences dating back to the renaissance period. 
During these times, portraits acted as more of a visual language than what they perhaps do today. It was popular for the powerful and wealthy to have portraits produced. Many aspects of the paintings, such as clothing or surrounding objects and possessions of that person, would all be purposely included into the portrait to either represent that persons wealth, function or status.  



Copley's William Murray


My understanding taken from this research of status portraits is that the aim of the status portrait is to included certain factors and elements within the painting which make it visible to the viewer what the person does as a job and what their social class might be.
To have a portrait painted during this time straight away would of shown you were not of a working class as only the wealthy and important could afford to have them produced.

Book;
Citezens and Kings, 
Portraits in the age of revolution 1760-1830 
Royal Academy of Arts

"This is why the statesman or government minister is generally represented seated with his hand on a table on which documents are displayed, adhering to a convention established during the renaissance."

So this characteristic within a painting of an important looking male seated with his hand on documents on a table, will have worked at this time as a visual language to the people; basically saying 'this male is a statesman or government minister'. - someone very important. 

Another example of this style painting is available;


Derby's Richard Arkwright


Book;
Citezens and Kings, 
Portraits in the age of revolution 1760-1830 

"The sitter, a skilled businessman, is portrayed seated beneath an official-looking curtain as if he were a top government official. On the table beside him, the customary pens, papers and letters have been replaced by a machine of his own invention for spinning wool."

If you think to portraits in either photograph or painting form at present, it is not the norm to have ones possessions or certain symbols presented in the portrait. These style paintings really go to show the importance of a persons social class, profession and wealth during these time periods and how times have now changed.