Frederick Frankland

The simplified palette mainly consisting of brown and white tones gives an impression of sobriety to this portrait. However, a few objects disclose the wealth and social status of Frederick Frankland, director of the Bank of England and member of the British Parliament. The sitter is portrayed as a distinguished man at his desk holding a letter. Seated in a fi ne upholstered armchair, the sitter rests his left arm on a table covered with a sumptuous Turkish carpet. Silk, velvet, and linen used for clothing, accessories, and home furnishings were all luxury textiles in 18th-century England. While linen was a European good, silks and velvets were often imported from Asia.