“This 1739 portrait by John Theodore Heins captures the composed dignity of Christopher Amiraut, offering a window into 18th-century Norwich society through its meticulous detail and direct gaze.”
A young man with a direct gaze, Christopher Amiraut, sits for his portrait, captured by John Theodore Heins in 1739. The painter establishes a sense of quiet dignity, with Amiraut's hand resting gently on a closed book, perhaps suggesting a studious or contemplative nature. The soft light illuminates his face and the crisp folds of his white cravat, drawing attention to his composed expression. This work offers a glimpse into the life of a prominent local figure from Norwich, a city where Heins was active, creating many portraits for civic dignitaries and leading families. The artist's focus on individual character, combined with the traditional pose, anchors this painting firmly within the conventions of 18th-century British portraiture, yet it retains a compelling sense of personal presence.
- Artist
- John Theodore Heins
- Date
- 1739
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Location
- Norfolk Museums Collections
What to Notice
Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.
The subtle texture of the dark fabric of Christopher Amiraut's coat.
The delicate lace trim peeking from his sleeve.
The way light catches the silver buckle on his shoe.
The detailed rendering of his powdered wig.
1 more detail is waiting.
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John Theodore Heins
1697–1756 · United KingdomJohn Theodore Heins was a prolific portrait painter who dominated Norwich's civic art scene for over a decade in the 18th century.
Further Works by Heins
The Death of Thomas Guy
1737 · Norfolk Museums Collections
Thomas Guy Counting His Money
1737 · Norfolk Museums Collections
Thomas Hurnard (1711/1712–1753), Mayor of Norwich (1752)
1754 · Norfolk Museums Collections
Samuel Bradford (1652–1731), Master (1716–1724), Bishop of Rochester (1723–1731)
1729 · Corpus Christi College
Family Group on a Terrace
1730 · Art Institute of Chicago
John Gainsborough (1711–1772)
1731 · Gainsborough's House
Thomas Gainsborough (1709–1739)
1731 · Gainsborough's House
Isabella Astley (1724-1741), aged eight
1732 · National Trust
More works to explore
Beyond Heins: works from the same years.
Same era · 1720s–1750s
Portrait of Madame Anne-Jeanne Cassanéa de Mondonville, née Boucon (1708-1780)
Maurice Quentin de Latour · 1752 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1720s–1750s
Holy family
Adriaen van der Werff · 1725 · Alte Pinakothek
Same era · 1720s–1750s
Side Chair
Artist Unknown - The Mercat Cross, Aberdeen · 1750 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1720s–1750s
Hudibras' First Adventure (Twelve Large Illustrations for Samuel Butler's Hudibras, Plate 3)
William Hogarth · 1725 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1720s–1750s
Upholstery for a Chair Seat
Philippe de la Salle · 1738 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Same era · 1720s–1750s
Image of an Empire in Peace and Prosperity
Zhou Kun · 1745 · National Palace Museum
Same era · 1720s–1750s
Residences Memorables de l'Incomporable Heros de Nôtre Siècle, ou Edifices et Jardins de Son Altesse Serenissime Monsigneur Le Prince Eugene François de Savoye et de Piedmont
Salomon Kleiner · 1731 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1720s–1750s
Madonna and Child with Saints Peter and Paul
Stefano Mulinari · 1750 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art