Elizabeth Calvert 1800

Benjamin West painted this portrait of Elizabeth Calvert, capturing the fashion of her time. Note the pearl strands adorning her hair, mirroring the pearl necklace around her neck. Pearls, throughout history, have been potent symbols. Consider the Roman era, where pearls signified status and wealth, often associated with Venus, the goddess of love, because of their association with water. Further back, in ancient Persia, pearls were thought to be created when dewdrops fell from the heavens and were swallowed by oysters, linking them to purity and divinity. In portraiture, pearls have been used to convey chastity, elegance, and sometimes, hidden sorrow. This somber association of pearls is often seen in funerary portraits. These emotional and symbolic associations create an uncanny tension that engages viewers, inviting introspection. This symbol of purity and wealth has evolved through countless cultural interpretations, demonstrating our deep, subconscious connection to these luminous jewels.