Dorothy Murray (1743-1811) c. 1759 - 1761

Curator: This is John Singleton Copley's portrait of Dorothy Murray, who was born in 1743. The work is held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: She looks a little bit forlorn, doesn't she? Like she's been caught mid-thought. The way the light catches her dress is amazing. Curator: Copley was quite adept at capturing the nuances of colonial society, and portraits such as this can be read as documents of class and gender roles during that period. Editor: I'm intrigued by those flowers she's holding. Are they meant to be symbolic? Curator: Possibly. Flowers in portraits of this era often conveyed messages about virtue, beauty, or even specific life events. Editor: It makes me wonder about her story. Was she happy? What were her dreams? Art really is a portal, isn't it? Curator: It certainly prompts us to ask questions and consider the complexities of the past. Editor: Yes, it really does invite us to think and feel beyond the canvas.