Ostentatious Plainness: Copley's portrait of the Mifflins

John Singleton Copley, Portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mifflin (Sarah Morris), 1773, oil on ticking, 156.5 × 121.9 cm (Philadelphia Museum of Art)
A conversation with Dr. Kathleen A. Foster, The Robert L. McNeil, Jr., Senior Curator of American Art, and Director, Center for American Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Dr. Beth Harris
A Seeing America video

[@dumoulin11]

The workmanship in this painting is phenomenal.

[@frogtoad4375]

This painting is very smooth, really brings out the silk on the two figures.

[@jackiegordobello]

Very interesting. Beautiful video

[@eggs4286]

Is he one of my ancestors

[@steven189111]

So ---- How did Thomas Mifflin make His Money ?????? Excellent Presentation! Well Done!

[@bm4114]

Absolutely fascinating

[@danweese8071]

fascinating - thank you

[@jamesellsworth9673]

When 'The Garb' or Plain Dress stood out, my Quaker forebears decided to dress like everyone else, again to avoid ostentation. Quakers never objected to making money through agriculture or trade or manufacture. They did emphasize 'fair trading' practices and taking only reasonable profits, even in times of high demand for certain goods.

[@christianfrommuslim]

Could you explain if it was OK for him, as a Quaker, to fight in the Revolution?

[@Frisenette]

Why the re-upload?

[@smarthistory-art-history]

Just a UA-cam hiccup, regarding resolution, now fixed.

[@Sasha0927]

Aptly renamed in 2023: Bougie-ly Boring
There's so much that feels off to me about these two... They're in their 20s? They both look older and tired.
This is supposed to support buying American but she's wearing the finest Chinese silk?
Idgi. Very interesting from a historical perspective - I don't hear about Whigs often - but not my favorite either way.