Marianne Ashley Walker 

Gilbert Stuart painted this portrait of Marianne Ashley Walker, probably in the late 18th or early 19th century. Stuart was one of the most celebrated portraitists in the United States at the time. His work helped to shape the visual culture of the new republic. Note how Stuart uses conventions of European aristocratic portraiture, but adapts them to an American context. The setting is luxurious, but not overly opulent. Walker's dress is fashionable, but also relatively simple. The overall impression is one of refined elegance. In this way, Stuart’s portraits reflect the values of the American upper class. They wanted to be seen as sophisticated, but also as virtuous and unpretentious. To understand the painting more fully, we can delve into the history of portraiture in the United States, the biography of Gilbert Stuart, and the social history of the sitter's family.