Mrs. James Ladson (Judith Smith) 1820

"Mrs. James Ladson (Judith Smith)" is an oil on canvas portrait painted in 1820 by Samuel Morse, a prominent American artist and inventor. The portrait depicts Mrs. Ladson, a prominent figure in Charleston society, in a three-quarter-length pose, wearing a dark dress and a lace cap. Morse captures a sense of quiet dignity and reserved grace in Mrs. Ladson's demeanor, characteristic of the neoclassical portraiture style popular in the early 19th century.