Mrs.Seymour Fort 1778

John Singleton Copley, probably working in Boston, made this oil on canvas portrait of Mrs. Seymour Fort sometime in the latter half of the 18th century. The painting is notable for the way it balances signs of wealth with references to domestic labor. Mrs. Fort is clearly a woman of means, as evidenced by the fine fabric of her dress, the elaborate lace trim of her cap, and the plush velvet chair she sits upon. But she is also shown actively engaged in needlework, mending a piece of fabric with a simple thread and needle. This detail speaks volumes about the social context of the time. In colonial America, even wealthy women were expected to contribute to the household economy through their needlework skills. Copley has captured this duality, presenting Mrs. Fort as both a lady of leisure and a practical, industrious woman. This reflects a broader negotiation of class and gender roles in the rapidly changing society of pre-Revolutionary America.