Abigail Chesebrough (Mrs. Alexander Grant)
1754
Joseph Blackburn captures the height of colonial fashion in this 1754 portrait of Abigail Chesebrough. She is decked out in a shimmering white satin gown with jaunty yellow bows and a blue sash, looking every bit the wealthy socialite of pre-Revolutionary America. The large fan she holds isn't just an accessory; in the 18th century, fans were used for a secret language of flirtation, though here it mostly signals her high status and refinement. Blackburn, a British artist working in the colonies, was famous for painting the elite, and he definitely makes Abigail look like she owns the place.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
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