Portrait of a Woman and a Family

American 19th Century

National Gallery of Art

This image is a portrait showing a group of seven people from the chest up, seated and closely positioned together. On the left, there is a woman with dark hair styled in a bun and wearing a dark dress with a white lace collar next to a young girl holding a doll. Behind the girl is a woman with medium-length curly dark hair, visible earrings, and wearing a dress with a prominent brooch. Next to her is a young boy with short hair and a serious expression in a suit with a large white collar. An adult woman is in the middle holding a baby in a long white dress, and she has her hair pulled back and is wearing a striped dress. In the middle of the back row is a woman with decorative earrings. Next to the baby is a man with combed back hair and a serious expression, wearing a suit and bowtie. The background appears plain, focusing attention on the group, and the image is set in an ornately carved golden frame with floral patterns.