Mrs. Ebenezer Battelle (Anna Durant)

Stuart employs a restrained palette and careful modeling of light to render the textures of fabric and skin. Subtle chiaroscuro defines the folds of the dress and the contours of the face, while the soft focus around the edges creates a sense of intimacy typical of his portrait practice.

Gilbert Stuart, a leading portraitist from the Rhode Island colony, often produced several copies of his works to satisfy demand, and this piece is one such example. After changing hands among private owners, it entered the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where it remains on view.