Mrs. Samuel Gardiner 1763

William Johnston painted Mrs. Samuel Gardiner, an oil on canvas, sometime in the mid-18th century. This work offers a glimpse into the life of a woman within the colonial elite of New England. The portrait presents Mrs. Gardiner in a controlled and elegant pose. Her clothing, though modest, speaks to her social standing, indicating the wealth and status of her family. It is likely that the Gardiners commissioned the portrait to affirm their position in society. The portrait itself operates as a kind of symbolic currency. In understanding this image, we draw upon genealogical records and historical accounts of New England families. We might also study period fashion and other portraits of the colonial elite to better understand Johnston’s work, and the socio-economic context in which Mrs. Gardiner lived. In doing so, we reveal the complex interplay between artistic representation and social identity in colonial America.