Mary Cadwalader Rawle
William Oliver Stone, 1868
About this artwork
In the tranquil oval frame of this 1868 oil on canvas portrait, William Oliver Stone captures Mary Cadwalader Rawle with refined elegance characteristic of post-Civil War American portrait. Measuring just 12 x 10½ inches (30.5 x 26.7 cm), the intimate scale suggests it was a personal commission, perhaps for family display, highlighting Stone's skill in rendering delicate features and fabrics in a compact format. Oval portraits like this were popular in 19th-century America for their classical nod to Renaissance traditions while suiting domestic interiors. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, the painting reflects the cultural prominence of portraiture among the nation's growing elite. Stone, an American artist active during this era of Reconstruction, specialized in such likenesses of women, emphasizing poise and social standing. Mary Cadwalader Rawle, depicted here, embodies the refined domestic ideal of the time, her portrayal a testament to familial legacy. Gifted to the Met in 1953 by Mrs. Max Farrand and Mrs. Cadwalader Jones—likely descendants—this work preserves a slice of American social history, inviting visitors to ponder the lives behind the canvas.