Mrs. Francis Brinley and Her Son Francis 1729

"Mrs. Francis Brinley and Her Son Francis" is an oil-on-canvas portrait painted by John Smibert in 1729. This piece, now located in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a fine example of Smibert’s early American portraiture. The work, showing the mother and son in a domestic setting with a potted plant, depicts the beauty of the subjects in a highly realistic manner that was popular in the early 18th century. The relaxed composition and rich color palette further contribute to the painting’s sense of intimacy and elegance.