Miss Daggett of New Haven, Connecticut (possibly Amelia Martha) c. 1795

This is a portrait of Miss Daggett of New Haven, Connecticut, possibly Amelia Martha, painted by an anonymous artist. Portraits like this speak to the growing affluence and social aspirations of the early American middle class. The trappings of wealth are subtly displayed: her elegant blue dress, the delicate roses, and even the landscape glimpsed through the window. But note the somewhat awkward rendering, typical of itinerant artists who traveled the countryside. The identity of the artist and sitter remain uncertain, yet the portrait offers valuable clues about the social and cultural history of the time. Genealogies, local histories, and period fashion guides can help to reconstruct the world in which this image was made and consumed. It reminds us that every artwork is a product of specific social conditions, reflecting the values, beliefs, and aspirations of its time.