America / c. 1803–5
Elizabeth Beltzhoover Mason
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Elizabeth Beltzhoover Mason as painting (America · c. 1803–5).
Stuart also painted a portrait of George Washington, now immortalized on the dollar bill.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this painting as oil on canvas and credits Gilbert Stuart (American, born The Thirteen Colonies, 1755–1828).
The museum's collection notes: The sitter’s high-waisted dress, pearl necklace, and elegant hairstyle of cascading ringlets reflect the height of fashion around 1800. Her gaze is assured: her chin is tilted upward but her eyes peer down with confidence. Mason’s husband was a prosperous lawyer, an influential figure in President Thomas Jefferson’s administration, and a plantation owner in Maryland. According to an inventory from 1807, the couple enslaved approximately 185 people, ranging from the newborn Abraham to 79-year-old Rachel. The family’s wealth afforded Mason the opportunity to be painted by Gilbert Stuart, a much sought-after portraitist.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtElizabeth Beltzhoover MasonOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.