Portrait of a Young Woman 1801

Mather Brown's "Portrait of a Young Woman" (1801), now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts a young woman in a white dress, seated before a keyboard instrument. The subject's gaze and pose, along with the musical score, suggest a moment of quiet contemplation, reflecting the conventions of Neoclassical portraiture popular during this period. Brown, a prominent American portraitist, was known for his ability to capture the individuality of his sitters, highlighting their character and social status.