Mrs. Whaley (died 1798, Isle of Man) 1794 - 1798

George Chinnery painted this oil on canvas, "Mrs. Whaley," around 1797, and it now resides at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Chinnery, who spent much of his career in India and China, captures Mrs. Whaley in a style reminiscent of the British portrait tradition. Yet, let’s consider the identity of the sitter against the backdrop of empire. The portrait's formality speaks to Mrs. Whaley’s social standing, but the somewhat somber palette hints at the personal constraints placed on women of her time. Chinnery seems to subvert traditional representations of women through her gaze and modest, dark, clothing. What does it mean to be a woman, especially a British woman, in the late 18th century? The Isle of Man, where Mrs. Whaley died, was a hub of trade and transit and her life, though little is documented, would have been touched by global currents. Ultimately, this portrait invites us to reflect on how individual lives are always interwoven with broader social forces.