Hannah Speakman Rowe (Mrs. John Rowe) (1725-1805) 1748

Curator: Robert Feke painted this portrait of Hannah Speakman Rowe, sometime in the mid-18th century. What strikes you most about her? Editor: She seems so self-possessed, almost defiant, doesn’t she? Like she’s daring you to underestimate her. It's interesting to see that attitude conveyed in a period when women's roles were so circumscribed. Curator: Precisely. Feke was one of the first American-born artists to paint in a fully developed European style. And consider the context: portraiture at this time was a powerful tool for projecting status and solidifying social standing. Editor: It’s almost as if she's using the conventions of the time against themselves. She’s in finery, sure, but her gaze makes it clear who’s really in control. I find that really inspiring. Curator: It’s a testament to the power of portraiture, and perhaps to Hannah Rowe herself, that we can still feel that power centuries later. Editor: Absolutely. It's more than just a painting, it’s a statement.