Mrs. Moses Gill (Rebecca Boylston) 1773

John Singleton Copley painted Mrs. Moses Gill, Rebecca Boylston, with oil on canvas. The lilies here are no mere floral decoration; they are charged with centuries of symbolic weight. In Christian iconography, lilies represent purity, innocence, and resurrection, often linked to the Virgin Mary. Yet, their story stretches back further. In ancient Crete, lilies were associated with the queen of the gods, embodying feminine power and fertility. Observe how this flower has been reborn through time. From Minoan frescoes to Renaissance Annunciations, its essence persists, adapted to new cultural landscapes. This enduring presence speaks to our collective subconscious, a visual echo resonating across epochs. The lilies, juxtaposed with Rebecca Boylston, provoke contemplation. What does it mean to be a woman in colonial America, framed by symbols of purity and power? The answer lies not just in history but in the depths of our shared visual memory.