Community Chat

[Oznell]

More 250th birthday celebration stuff!

Love this 1773 painting I came across, "Portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mifflin",  by famed artist, John Singleton Copley.

The Mifflins were Philadelphia Quakers with strong Revolutionary leanings.  Thomas was a merchant who would ultimately be a signer of the U.S. Constitution, and who became the first governor of Pennsylvania.

Sarah Morris Mifflin was admired as accomplished and witty.  I can see that-- look at her rather remarkable expression, seemingly looking directly at the painter.  The slightly hooded eyes, intelligent, level gaze, the barest hint of smile and dimple.

It was unusual for painters to do double portraits of this type at this time, and Copley positions his subjects rather close together, suggesting a warm relationship, analysts say.

What do you see?  I see Thomas gazing in the direction of his wife, with a vaguely benign expression.  He has his finger marking his place in the book, perhaps showing that he's been reading to her a passage, that they've been discussing.

Art historians see significance in the little loom on which she is working and weaving a fringe--  they say it symbolizes the couple's support for colonial boycotts of English goods. ( At least, that's what the Philadelphelphia Museum of Art says!).  Interesting.

Can well believe that.  There's always so much going on in paintings like this, in that era, and everything seems to have a meaning, beyond what it seems to be on the surface.

Copley rose from poor, disadvantaged beginnings to teach himself to paint with this skill and psychological insight.  Another fascinating figure.    

[shoekitty]

@Oznell   I found the painting of the netting, (or sheer voile) that lays over the dress...amazing. What detail ! Is it organza?  What ever!  I found the detail of the costumes as authentic and life like as one could paint. I am always amused a bit though at the angles in earlier paintings. The smallness of the body, larger head. As if the perspective of body angles wasn't quite mastered...or done on purpose to convey importance of the face.  Great painting though. The facial expressions are quite real, almost like a photograph, but better. The dress on the Mrs. Seems quite fancy for Quaker.  But maybe it is her best Sunday dinner apron, and that adornment on neckline is a floral pin of sorts.  Still quite monied dress for Quaker. 

[Pink123]

Thank you @Oznell , for my mind Mr. Miffin is quite a handsome gentleman.

[just bee]

@Oznell 

I just read a review of this 2016 Copley biography (journalpanorama dot org) and if the book is even half as interesting as the review, it might be worth the time.

What a talent.  What a complicated individual.  What a compelling life story.

[JudyL]

Sorry @Oznell  - I don't see what you see in Mrs. Mifflin.  I see someone who is bored, unhappy, and wishing she could get away from her husband.

[just bee]

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@JudyL wrote:

Sorry @Oznell  - I don't see what you see in Mrs. Mifflin.  I see someone who is bored, unhappy, and wishing she could get away from her husband.

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@JudyL 

She may have been wishing to get away from Copley. 

[Desertdi]

UGH!      I need indoor plumbing...heat & a/c...and especially electricity (!!!)  and a car.

[Oznell]

Very observant, @shoekitty !  I wondered about the relative size of the heads too, and lean a bit to your theory of it being an intentional nod to the importance of the face, and the "personages" as a whole...

Some account I read also mentioned the garb as being unusual for Quakers, but that it was "relatively" plain, despite it being clear to their contemporaries that the materials were of the finest!

I think he's good-looking too, @Pink123 !

@JudyL ,  interesting take--  that's what's fun about analyzing portraits, we see different things...

Wow, @just bee ,  talk about timely!  Thanks for that alert, and looks to be fascinating.

Agreed, @Desertdi ,  and film noir hadn't even been invented yet!  That's my deal-breaker.  But I love what that era accomplished and that these forerunners were clearly of sterner stuff than I am.... 

[Desertdi]

I see a SMUG male, and a woman with a SNEER on her face...