Elizabeth Carter, 1788-1789. Portraits in old age should present
piety (religion being a major part of political ideology). While
in youth, the subject may directly stare from a painting, but at
an advanced age, a rhetorical code is to look at no particular
object towards the left (or right): left signifying the past, right
signifying the future. Left: accomplishments in (past) life. Right:
things to look forward to (such as residing in a just heaven). For
an old woman: face looking modestly downward. Dress costume should
be conservative: ribbons, lace, a proper bonnet, muted grey, black
or white colors, no riot of bright colors of youth such as sexually
suggestive reds. Nothing to suggest intellectuality such as books,
controversial statues, art objects or paintings, or items related
to work such as those of Elizabeth Carter (pens & ink: writers);
or Anne Damer (chisel: woodcuts, or sculpture), etc.
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