James Millar (1735–1805): Birmingham’s Enlightenment Portraitist James Millar, born in Birmingham in 1735, emerged as a prominent figure in the artistic landscape of the Midlands Enlightenment – a period characterized by intellectual curiosity and scientific advancement. Records from Birmingham's poor law levy books confirm his presence in the city’s social fabric in 1763, marking the beginning of his career as a portrait painter. He quickly established himself as Birmingham’s foremost artist of the latter half of the eighteenth century, capturing the spirit of his time through meticulously…