Harpsichord Recital at Count Rumford's, Concord, New Hampshire c. 1800

This watercolor, "Harpsichord Recital at Count Rumford's, Concord, New Hampshire," was made in the late 18th or early 19th century by Benjamin Thompson, also known as Count Rumford. It is a domestic scene portraying women playing music and socializing. Thompson, born in colonial Massachusetts, lived a life marked by shifting loyalties, eventually becoming a Count in Bavaria. Here, we see a snapshot of elite social life during the early Federal period in America. The emphasis on women's domestic accomplishments, such as musical performance, speaks volumes about gendered expectations and social standing. The figures are stiff, yet there’s a sense of burgeoning femininity in their elaborate dresses and hats. Consider the untold narratives: what of the enslaved people who likely maintained such a household? What aspirations might these women have held beyond their expected roles? This piece becomes more than just a drawing; it reflects complex social dynamics.