Artwork

Portrait of Mrs. Matthew Tilghman (Anna Lloyd, 1724–1794) and Her Daughter, Anna Maria (1755–1843)

Portrait of Mrs. Matthew Tilghman (Anna Lloyd, 1724–1794) and Her Daughter, Anna Maria (1755–1843) is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist John Hesselius. It dates from 1757 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

About this work

Overview

Executed in the mid‑colonial period, the work is part of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s collection.

John Hesselius’s 1757 oil painting presents Anna Lloyd, later known as Mrs. Matthew Tilghman, together with her daughter Anna Maria. Executed in the mid‑colonial period, the work is part of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s collection. The composition places the mother in a blue satin gown, her child nestled on her lap, against a subdued, dark backdrop that includes a faint window opening on the left.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait captures a moment of familial intimacy, emphasizing the bond between mother and daughter. Anna Lloyd’s poised demeanor and the child’s direct gaze convey both the social status of the family and a tender domestic scene, reflecting the colonial emphasis on lineage and the role of women within the household.

Technique & Style

Hesselius employs a restrained palette, allowing the satin’s sheen and the delicate lace trim to stand out against the muted background. Careful modeling of folds and subtle chiaroscuro give the figures a three‑dimensional presence, while the soft rendering of the child’s face adds a gentle realism characteristic of mid‑eighteenth‑century American portraiture.

History & Provenance

Created in 1757, the painting remained in private hands before entering the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Its provenance traces back to the Tilghman family, whose prominence in Maryland’s colonial society is documented, and the work now serves as a visual record of that lineage within a public institution.