1786: what? no, really, what?

Purchase, The Bertram F. and Susie Brummer Foundation Inc. Gift, 1964 www.metmuseum.org oasc

Mather Brown was born in the United States in 1761 and chose to spend his life in England, where he was the first American artist to attend the Royal Academy.  This didn't keep him from painting such American luminaries as John Adams and Thomas Jefferson . . .  as well as this nameless "Lady with a Dog," neither of whom look thoroughly sold on this portrait thing.