Last week my class had the wonderful opportunity to take a short end-of-semester field trip to the Boston area. Part of the time was spent in the Museum of Fine Arts' new Art of the Americas wing, which is absolutely glorious. I couldn't help noticing a common theme throughout the portraits : the red suit. In the eighteenth century textiles were costly, and so clothing in portraits could show off one's gentility and status. I was amazed how many examples there were of men in an outfit that is today reserved for Santa Claus.
Here's Nathanial Sparhawk, painted by John Singleton Copley in 1768. He was a successful merchant in Maine, but his house was nowhere near as grand as this backdrop.
John Singleton Copley also
painted Samuel Adams in a red suit around 1772.
Across the pond in England, Thomas Gainsborough painted this portrait of hospital benefactor John Eld of Seighford Hall, Stafford in 1775.
Here's French artist JeanJacques Caffieri, painted by Swede Adolf Ulric Werftmuller in 1784.
The red suit persisted through several decades, as this1793 painting of Bostonians Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Russell by John Trumbull. Their arm-in-arm pose was the latest trend from England.
I wonder what portrait fads will look funny to future generations. Maybe jumping photos of entire wedding parties?
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