The Artist and Two Friends

Three friends engage in animated discussion; we feel included thanks to their expressive, if mute gestures. Baldrighi modestly stands to the left. The figure at centre gazes back at us, acknowledging our presence; he is perhaps the painter Alexander Roslin (1718–1793). The company is convivial, the setting intimate. Unlike the others, Baldrighi wears a cap, not the wig expected for public display, suggesting the three are meeting at his home. The spirited application of paint matches the mood. Such informal portraiture became increasingly important in the 18th century.