Portrait of Jane Griffith Koch 

Rembrandt Peale painted this portrait of Jane Griffith Koch with oil on canvas. The luminous quality of Jane’s dress and lace veil immediately grabs your attention. Peale has captured the sheen and drape of the fabric so well. Its appearance is down to his mastery of oil paint, and the way he has layered glazes to create this dazzling effect. But it’s important to remember that such finery was only available to the wealthier classes, sustained by complex economies of production and trade. The raw materials may have originated in far-flung places, reliant on exploitative labor practices to harvest cotton and silk. The lace itself would have been a costly, time-consuming commodity, whether handmade or produced on a machine. Peale’s skilled rendering invites us to consider the social and economic context embedded within the image. This portrait isn't just a record of Jane Griffith Koch’s likeness; it’s also a reflection of the material world and its inequalities.