Hall appears to have undergone an artistic renaissance in the mid-1770s. His miniatures became more sketch-like than before, with vibrant brushstrokes, freer composition and more relaxed figures. These characteristics can be found in the portrait of an unknown architect, dated 1774. The visionary upturned eyes and the informal dress, with a shirt and silk vest, make associations with an artist. There is a larger version in the Louvre, while Nationalmuseum owns this bust-length picture with a somewhat different attitude, but exactly the same clothing. In this case, Hall played on an almost grisaille-type effect, where the ivory contributed to the shine of the model’s vest.