Margaret Gibbs Appleton (Mrs. Nathaniel Appleton) (1699-1771) 1763

Editor: So, this is John Singleton Copley's portrait of Margaret Gibbs Appleton. I notice she's posed thoughtfully, almost melancholically. What can you tell me about this piece in relation to its time? Curator: Copley was a master of portraying the emerging merchant class in colonial America. Consider how the artist is presenting Mrs. Appleton – her clothing, the way she poses. How does it speak to her social standing and the values of the time? Editor: I see it now; it's not just a portrait, but a statement of class and perhaps even an idealization of colonial womanhood. Thank you for your insights! Curator: Indeed. And understanding that helps us to read the artwork with a new, more critical eye.