Polly Holman was born in Watertown, MA, in 1779, married Elisha Norcross in Charlestown, MA in 1797, and died in New York in 1822. That is all we know about her, except for the story told in this unsigned portrait.

We see her lovely blue silk dress with exuberant lace collar, her multitude of jewels (ring, pearl necklace, earrings, lorgnette, and tortoise shell comb in her hair), her lush flowered shawl, and the hint of classical columns framing the portrait.

37 3/4" x 32 1/2" overall.