Portrait of a Woman 1809 - 1820

This undated portrait of a woman was painted by Joshua Wilson Faulkner. Her hands are clasped in a gesture we’ve seen echoed through centuries. Consider the praying hands, a motif deeply rooted in Christian iconography. These hands, often depicted in supplication or reverence, carry an emotional intensity—an appeal to a higher power. The gesture is reminiscent of those found in medieval devotional paintings, yet here, the expression is more subdued, as if reflecting a moment of personal reflection rather than public piety. The veil draped over her head is a symbol of modesty, a representation of inner virtue made manifest. Over time, the veil has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings, revealing a cyclical progression of symbolic expression.