Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Reading - 18C American Woman with a Book

1773 Henry Benbridge (American colonial era artist, 1743-1812) Mrs Charles Coteworth Pinckney (Sarah Middleton) holding a book

The Bible was the staple instructional reading text. The most humble of homes usually possessed a Bible or two with which to instruct children & to engage in daily religious devotions. In fact, by the early 18C, the colonies of Massachusetts & Connecticut helped provide a Bible for those too poor to buy one themselves.