Margaret Spear Smith
c. 1800
Gilbert Stuart captures Margaret Spear Smith with a gaze that feels surprisingly modern for the turn of the 19th century. Notice her rosy cheeks and the fashionable, towering curls of her hair—a look that was all the rage in the Federal period. She sits poised beside a stack of books, hinting at her intellect, while her dark dress and delicate lace collar show off the elegant simplicity of the Neoclassical style. Stuart was famous for painting the founding fathers, but here he brings that same masterful touch to a private citizen, making her feel like she could step right out of the canvas.
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