Alexander John Gaspard Marcet (1770–1822), MD, FRS

This portrait of Alexander Marcet at the Royal Society of Medicine depicts the Swiss-born physician and chemist who practiced in London and contributed significantly to early 19th-century medical science. Raeburn’s portraits of scientific and medical figures document the international networks of knowledge that characterized the age of Enlightenment. Characteristic of the artist's mature approach, the work displays bold, direct brushwork building form through vigorous strokes of light and shadow rather than careful blending, with minimal underdrawing.

The physician’s intellectual character is conveyed through Raeburn’s characteristic combination of bold technique and penetrating characterization. Strong lighting models the face with the clarity appropriate to a man of science.