The six works of American art that I have chosen all represent women. These paintings show how women were depicted by American artists. Some of the works of art show only women or children, while one of the portraits shows a couple. John Singleton Copley painted Portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mifflin (Sarah Morris). This is the only portrait that I have selected that shows both man and woman. I feel that these six works of art show the growth of how women were presented from 1671-1893. The works of art that I have selected are Mrs. Elizabeth Freake and Baby Mary(1671-74), Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mifflin(1773), The White Girl(1862), Miss Amelia Van Buren(1891), A Virgin(1892-93),and Lady Agnew of Lachnaw(1892-93. I believe that these paintings are similar in many ways, yet different as well.
Anonymous, Mrs. Elizabeth Freake and Baby Mary, This painter, although unknown, can be attributed to half-dozen portraits that were painted in Boston. This colonial painter shows their knowledge of traditional British portraiture that is derived from representations of Elizabeth I. As you can see by looking at this painting, this artist gave more attention to the clothing that Mrs. Elizabeth Freake is wearing then to Mrs. Freake’s characteristics. This portrait was done in oil on a 42 ½ X 36 ¾ “ canvas. One way that I feel that this painting is different than the other paintings is that it is a pendant portrait. This was painted to hang next to the portrait of Mr. Freake. These paintings were meant to complement each other. This portrait is similar to Portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mifflin in the way that the artists have made the background so dark it is almost black. This helps to bring your focus solo on the people in the portraits. When comparing the portrait to The White Girl I notice that in both

portraits there seems to be more detail to what the subjects are wearing rather than to their faces. It seems like it is almost an afterthought. However, in The White Girl there also seems to be more detail to the background and to the wolf that she is standing on. With the painting of Miss Amelia Van Buren again we see the almost traditional style of British portraiture. The background of the painting is dark like the painting of Mrs. Freake. There is detail and attention to what they are wearing but in the portrait of Miss Buren there is also attention to the details of her face. I feel that I get more of Miss Van Buren’s personality by looking at her portrait then I do looking at Mrs. Freake’s portrait. The biggest similarity that I see when comparing the painting of A Virgin, is that even though there is more detail in the background the only thing that stands out are the clouds that appear to be wings. I also see in both of these paintings a woman who is there to support and nurture the children that are painted with them. The posture of both Mrs. Freake and Lady Agnew of Lochnaw are much the same. I feel much more depth from the painting of Lady Agnew. John Singleton Copley, Portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mifflin (Sarah Morris) John Singleton Copley was a self-taught painter born in Boston. Copley displays great affection in his work of Mr. and Mrs. Mifflin using oil on ticking that is 61 5/8 X 48”. In this work of art you see that the main subject of the painting is of Mrs. Mifflin. She is facing the painter while her husband looks at her almost longingly with a slight smile on his face. There seems to be more detail in the facial features of this painting then in that of Mrs. Freake. You see Mrs. Mifflin weaving decorative fringe on a portable loom, which could show the couples

support of the colonists’ boycott of English goods. Mr. Mifflin is holding a book. This could be a book that he is reading to his wife. This portrait shows a loving and equal partnership. This was an innovative concept in its time. While looking at this painting sitting next to the painting of Lady Agnew of Lochnaw I notice that both paintings show strong women. They both look directly at you almost challenging you to disagree with them. They both have a small up turn to their mouths, a smirk possibly. The painting of The White Girl is very different in the subject matter. The subject of The White Girl is the painter’s mistress. This is completely different then the show of an equal partners in marriage. However, when I look at the eyes of the women in both paintings I see that they both look like they have a determined look in their eyes. I see the same thing when I look in to the eyes of Mary, the middle child painted in A Virgin. You can see her determination to help the younger children after the loss of their mother. Miss Van Buren also shows her own determination as well. Mrs. Van Buren is similarly painted with the dark background making her stand out as well as in the painting of the Mifflin’s. In both portraits I also see a lot facial details. James A. M. Whistler, The White Girl This oil painting done on a 84 ½ X 42 ½ “canvas is also known as Symphony in White, No. 1. Whistler had an art for art’s sake philosophy, which is why he started referring to his works in such abstract terms. The White Girl shows Whistlers influence of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood whom he had recently come in contact with. This painting is of Whistler’s mistress Joanna Hiffernan. The painting is done mostly in white showing almost an allusion to the Virgin Mary. This painting represents innocence and its loss. Whistler tried many times to submit his

painting in many galleries and was rejected numerous times. He finally was accepted at Salon des Refuses causing quite a scandal. When comparing A Virgin to The White Girl the irony is that of true innocence compared to portrayed innocence. Both paintings are similar by the way that they are about innocence in multiple forms. Where The White Girl is about the loss of innocence, A Virgin is about the innocence of youth. Both painting also have a textured look to them as well. Lady Agnew of Lochnaw has an innocence look to her as well. Her dress is such a light purple that it almost appears white. In both of these paintings you see a curtain behind them, with subtle detailing. Although these two women do look quite similar I feel that you see more personality from Lady Agnew of Lochnaw. It seems to me to have much more depth and detail of her face then The White Girl. Miss Amelia Van Buren does not seem to show the innocence as the other paintings do. She seems wise beyond her years. Whistler placed small details throughout the whole painting but your focus remains mostly on the girl in white. In Eakins painting it is hard to look at anything except for Miss Van Buren because he placed almost all the detail on her. Thomas Eakins, Miss Amelia Van Buren Thomas Eakins in known for many paintings, however, he’s most compelling portrait is of his former student and friend. This oil painting was done on a 45 X 32” canvas. Most of Eakins attention is centered on Miss Van Buren’s face and hands. She seems to be looking off in the distance while deeply in thought. She seems to show a quite strength. Miss Van Buren was an artist herself and chose to work primarily in photography.

I enjoy the usage of color in both A Virgin and Miss Amelia Van Buren. I believe that both artists color choice really highlights each of the paintings. I also see that both paintings to have a textured almost choppy look to them, except for the faces. In the painting of Lady Agnew of Lochnaw I see that both women show strength. While Miss Van Buren shows a more quite strength, Lady Agnew shows a more pronounced strength.
Abbott Handerson Thayer, A Virgin
Abbott Handerson Thayer painted this 90 3/8 X 70 7/8” oil on canvas of his children shortly after the untimely death of their mother. Mary the middle child pictured in the painting was originally envisioned as Flora, the Greek goddess of flowers, but as the work progressed Thayer decided to make her a Greek “Victory” figure by having the clouds behind her appear as wings. While studying the painting it looks to have rough, brisk brush strokes throughout the entire painting except for Mary’s face. Her face seems so smooth and clear. I can easily see how Mary has taken on the role as protector for the other two young children.
When I compare the painting of Lady Agnew of Lochnaw to A Virgin I feel like I am looking at Mary all grown up. In A Virgin I can see the determination in Mary’s eyes to be what her siblings need her to be. In Lady Agnew of Lochnaw I see a women who know what she wants and will not let anything stand in her way of getting it. There is a determination within each of the women, or woman and girl. John Singer Sargent, Lady Agnew of Lochnaw

John Singer Sargent was considered the leading portrait painter of his generation. Sargent tended to paint women who were strong in character and quite beautiful. This painting of Lady Agnew of Lochnaw was commissioned by Andrew Noel Agnew. The sitter was to be his young wife, Gertrude Veron. This is the portrait that made Sargents name. She sits and appears to be quite comfortable in her surroundings. It seems that she takes charge of the room. We see her eyebrow cocked and her mouth slightly turned up at the corner. She seems to be thinking about something quite entertaining. She stares straight at Sargent and through him she looks directly at us.
Through these six paintings we see the growth of women through time and the way that they are depicted. Starting with Mrs. Elizabeth Freake and Baby Mary we see not much more than the cloths that they are wearing which represents her husband well. About a hundred years later we see Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mifflin which show an equal and loving marriage. In 1862 with The White Girl we are introduced to a mistress that is portraying innocence. Then we met Miss Amelia Van Buren who shows us quite strength. A Virgin shows us the determination of a girl who will be the victor for her younger siblings. The final piece of art was that of Lady Agnew of Lachnaw who shows much personality and a sense of humor. Quite a change throughout the years, not only in the way that paintings were done, but in the way that we see the women as well.