David, Joanna, and Abigail Mason

The Freake-Gibbs Painter, David, Joanna, and Abigail Mason, 1670

How have ideas about childhood changed over time?

This painting depicts the three children of a prosperous Boston family. The wealth and cultural refinement of the parents, Arthur and Joanna Mason, are reflected in the postures and clothing worn by their children. David, portrayed as a young gentleman, holds a silver-topped walking stick that symbolizes his position as the male heir, while his sisters hold symbols of their feminine attributes.

Medium
Oil on canvas
Credit

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd

Item ID
1979.7.3
Dimensions
39 1/2 x 42 1/2 in. (100.3 x 108 cm)
Date
1670
Country
Artist name
The Freake-Gibbs Painter
Artwork location