Thomas Mifflin (1744-1800) and his wife, Sarah Morris Mifflin (1747?-1790), were the only Philadelphians painted by John Singleton Copley, the greatest artist in the American colonies prior to the Revolution. Mifflin
was an ardent patriot and by the time this portrait was made, had established himself as a successful merchant; later he rose to the rank of major general in the Continental Army, and was elected the first governor
of Pennsylvania after the United States achieved independence. Sarah Morris, who married Thomas in 1767, was an accomplished, witty, and supportive partner. In the portrait, Sarah is weaving a decorative fringe
on a portable loom, which may symbolize the couple's endorsement of the colonists' boycott of English goods.
Famous as one of Copley's finest works soon after it was painted, this portrait shows the artist
at the height of his powers. Born in Boston in 1738 into a poor immigrant family, Copley was self-taught. He developed a highly finished style that rendered the features, costumes, and settings of his subjects with
remarkable accuracy. Copley always kept a keen eye on his competition, and he may have been inspired to paint both Sarah and Thomas Mifflin on a single canvas by his contemporary Charles Willson Peale, who had recently
completed a group portrait of the Philadelphia Cadwalader family that was admired for its portrayal of family unity and affection. Here, Copley depicts not only the features and costumes of his sitters with his
famed skill, but creates an image of marriage as an affectionate, equal partnership--an innovative concept in American portraiture at the time.
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