John Lothrop by Durand, John
The portrait of "John Lothrop" by John Durand, painted around 1770, offers a glimpse into 18th-century American portraiture and a forgotten artist's journey.
Durand, an artist active in the latter half of the 18th century, depicts Lothrop with a direct gaze, surrounded by symbols of intellect like books and an inkwell. His red coat, adorned with gold buttons, speaks to his status.
For many years, details about John Durand himself were scarce, his identity almost lost to history. It took careful research to piece together his story, revealing a prolific, if lesser-known, portraitist.
This painting is a testament not only to its sitter but also to the enduring effort to preserve art history and the legacies of its creators.
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Transcript
This portrait of John Lothrop was painted around 1770. The artist, John Durand, was active during this period. He was once considered a prolific, if minor, portraitist. Look closely at the quill pen and the feather in the inkwell. These tools symbolize the sitter's intellect, or even his profession. But for decades, Durand's own identity was almost completely lost. His name reappeared in art history only after diligent research.