Adam Smith
- Artist: James Tassie
- Date: 1787
- Medium: glass paste medallion
- Dimensions: 3 1/2 in. x 2 1/2 in. (89 mm x 64 mm) oval
- Portrays: Adam Smith
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
In this tiny oval medallion of Adam Smith, created in 1787 by the Scottish medallist James Tassie, you see a finely rendered portrait of the economist’s face set against a shallow, glossy surface. The artist used glass paste—a mixture of ground glass and oil—to achieve vivid, jewel‑like tones that catch the light from every angle. Notice the subtle shading around Smith’s eyes and the gentle linework that outlines his beard; the small size forces us to focus on these intimate details.
Tassie produced six such portraits of Smith, capturing him at different stages of life. The medallion offers a quick snapshot of the man whose 1776 work, *The Wealth of Nations*, framed economics in terms of labor and competition. Though brief, this little panel invites you to imagine how he saw the world: efficient division of labor producing prosperity through self‑interested individualism.
See it in person
Adam Smith is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
