Mrs. Joseph Anthony Jr. c. 1795 - 1798

Gilbert Stuart’s portrait of Mrs. Joseph Anthony Jr. presents us with an image framed by an oval of shadow, out of which emerges a woman in silvery dress and powder-white hair, accentuated by a blue ribbon. Stuart’s brushwork, seemingly spontaneous, captures the texture of silk and the softness of flesh with delicate precision, yet what's most intriguing is the composition. The subject’s gaze meets ours directly, inviting a dialogue, while the asymmetry of the background — a swirl of red and blue — hints at a world beyond the sitter's controlled composure. We might consider how this asymmetry challenges the conventions of portraiture at the time. Stuart doesn't merely represent likeness; he engages with ideas of identity, suggesting that beneath the surface of social decorum lies a dynamic interplay of forces. Through careful examination of line and colour, Stuart destabilizes fixed notions, offering a glimpse into the complexities of selfhood.