Elizabeth Carson McAllister
Date1816
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsCanvas: 29 1/8 × 23 13/16 inches (74 × 60.5 cm)
Framed: 33 1/4 × 28 3/8 × 2 1/4 inches (84.5 × 72.1 × 5.7 cm)
Credit LineGift of Capt. Lewis Morris.
Object number1938.4
CopyrightThe images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextElizabeth Carson McAllister (1763–1822) was the second wife of Archibald McAllister (1756–1831), a distinguished military captain who served under George Washington during the Revolutionary War (1732–1799). A daughter of a prominent family of shipping merchants, landholders, and enslavers, Elizabeth’s status helped elevate that of her husband’s. Painted in complement to his portrait, Elizabeth’s quiet poise epitomizes conventional etiquette. Her humble brown dress with a satin collar and bonnet follows the latest fashion, indicating attentiveness to changes in 19th century taste and style. General Nathaniel Greene (1742–1786) recounted dining with the McAllister’s and described Elizabeth in a journal as a plump, agreeable woman of pretty fortune.
- Label text written by historical interpreter, Kate Lacivita