Hannah Loring 1763

John Singleton Copley painted "Hannah Loring" using oil on canvas. This isn’t just a portrait, but an image conjured from pigments, each with its own history. Consider the ultramarine blue of her dress, likely made from lapis lazuli, a precious stone mined far away in Afghanistan. The crimson reds may come from insects, cochineal, cultivated in Central and South America, while the white lead pigment was known since antiquity. The weaving of the fine linen lace trimming her dress, and the labor of her silk gown with the delicate fan, all indicate a life of privilege and access to global trade networks. Copley’s expertise lies in rendering these details. The painting is evidence of global trade and social status. The canvas itself, made from flax and stretched over a wooden frame, provides a sturdy ground for Copley's brushstrokes. In a way, it underscores the inherent value in materials and making, blurring the lines between high art and the everyday realities of class and commerce.