Artwork
Mrs. Samuel Mifflin and Her Granddaughter Rebecca Mifflin Francis

Mrs. Samuel Mifflin and Her Granddaughter Rebecca Mifflin Francis is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Charles Willson Peale. It dates from 1778 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 22.153.2
- Credit line
- Egleston Fund, 1922
About this work
A woman and a young girl sit together, Charles Willson Peale's 1778 portrait of a wealthy American family. The woman's fine clothes and the girl's curious look hint at the bond between them.
Subject & Meaning
The composition foregrounds the elder woman's dignified posture and the girl's tentative stance, underscoring themes of lineage and familial continuity.
The painting portrays Mrs. Samuel Mifflin alongside her young relative Rebecca Mifflin Francis, presenting a two-figure portrait that emphasizes the intergenerational connection within an early American family. The composition foregrounds the elder woman's dignified posture and the girl's tentative stance, underscoring themes of lineage and familial continuity. Executed in oil on canvas in 1778, the work is catalogued in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is recognized as a representative example of Charles Willson Peale's portraiture.
Its depiction of a grandmother and granddaughter functions as a visual record of kinship and social standing in colonial America.
Technique & Style
Created in 1778, this portrait by Charles Willson Peale is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 127 centimeters in height and 101.8 centimeters in width. As a formal portrait, the painting depicts a woman and a young girl, adhering to the conventions of the genre established during the late eighteenth century.
The medium of oil on canvas was a standard choice for Peale, allowing for the detailed rendering of textures and the sustained modeling of the sitters' features typical of his style. The dimensions and material composition align with the artist's broader output of portraiture from this period, which often emphasized the social standing of the subjects through careful attention to costume and setting.
History & Provenance
Mrs. Samuel Mifflin and Her Granddaughter Rebecca Mifflin Francis was painted by Charles Willson Peale in 1778 as a likeness of the Philadelphia matron and her granddaughter. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 127 × 101.8 cm and is classified within The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is held. No specific accession number or detailed exhibition history is recorded in the available sources.
Overview
Charles Willson Peale completed Mrs. Samuel Mifflin and Her Granddaughter Rebecca Mifflin Francis in 1778. This oil on canvas portrait captures a seated adult woman alongside a young girl. The work exemplifies Peale's skill in depicting individuals from the American elite, offering insight into family life during the late 18th century. It is a significant piece within the collection of American art.
Context
Charles Willson Peale was a multifaceted figure during the American Revolutionary era, known not only as a painter but also as a soldier, scientist, and naturalist. His service in the Continental Army during the war underscores his engagement with the period's significant events. This portrait, painted in 1778, places the sitters within a tumultuous historical moment, yet it maintains a focus on domesticity and personal identity amidst broader societal change.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Willson Peale (April 15, 1741 – February 22, 1827) was an American painter, military officer, scientist, and naturalist.
















