Portrait of Sir Captain West of the Dutton Indiaman
1785
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1785
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
You see a man in profile, powdered hair tied back, wearing a blue coat with gold trim and a crisp white cravat. This is Captain West, who sailed for the East India Company. The artist drew him in one sitting—no underpainting, just pencil and maybe a little watercolor. The grayish skin tone suggests Smart worked from life, catching the light in the room. To see more faces like this, look up England, 18th century.
