Mrs. William Thomas 1810 - 1813

John Wesley Jarvis’s portrait of Mrs. William Thomas, painted between 1810 and 1813, depicts the subject in a dark, yet refined manner. The sitter, dressed in black with a white bonnet, is situated against a backdrop of stormy clouds and a distant landscape, creating a sense of grandeur and mystery. This oil painting showcases Jarvis’s mastery of portraiture, as he captures the sitter’s character with nuanced brushstrokes and subtle details. The portrait, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a testament to the artistry of a leading figure in early American portraiture.