A woman, presumably a mother, sits on a sofa looking directly at the viewer. Two young boys, presumably her sons, sit one on her lap and one next to her.
2: Who serves at the center of the portrait and why? How does the woman look? How is she "republican" rather than aristocratic?
Mary Gibson (Mrs. Richard Tilghman) sits at the center of the portrait, the focal point of the piece. The light seems to radiate from her head and shoulders, and she looks modestly proud with a slight smile and good posture. She is dressed relatively plainly and modestly, her dress made of a naturally colored cloth, unlike an aristocrat who would be wearing a gaudy, opalescent outfit. She also seems to not be wearing much if any makeup, but is still naturally beautiful.
3: What values do her sons exhibit?
They are both sitting relatively calmly and are showing good posture. The seemingly younger child on Mrs. Tilghman's lap is dressed modestly, and even her presumably older son next to her is only dressed in an indigo colored outfit that seems similar to a soldier's uniform. This shows that they, like their mother, are proud but modestly so.
4: Is there a significance to the position of Mrs. Tilghman's arm?
Her arm is placed across the younger child's knees, gently but firmly holding him back from his reaching towards his other brother. This shows that in a Republican Motherhood role, the mother should guide her children to be responsible and civil.
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