Portrait of Mary Wollstonecraft

What it is

This oil painting was made by the artist John Opie around 1790-1791, during Mary Wollstonecraft's lifetime. It shows her with powdered hair, wearing a striped gown, holding an open book, with a quill pen and inkwell beside her.

Why it matters

This portrait is one of the key images used to know what Wollstonecraft looked like, since it was painted while she was alive by a recognized artist. The book and quill pen included in the painting point to her identity as a writer and thinker, a detail chosen to represent her public role.

Look closer

• Why do you think the artist included a book and writing tools in this portrait?
• What does her clothing and pose suggest about how she wanted to be seen, or how Opie wanted her to be seen?
• What might be missing from a painted portrait that a photograph could show?