Sarah Homes Tappan (Mrs. Benjamin Tappan)
1814
Gilbert Stuart, the man who gave us the iconic George Washington portrait on the dollar bill, captured this elegant lady in 1814. Notice her striking crimson dress paired with an enormous, ruffled white collar and a delicate lace bonnet tied with a bow—peak fashion for a wealthy American woman of the early 19th century! She sits poised on a blue sofa with gold scroll arms, staring directly at us with a calm, almost amused expression. Stuart was known for his ability to capture the personality of his sitters, moving away from stiff, formal poses to show a bit of life and character.
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