Between 1750-1760, Joseph Badger portrayed two women reading outdoors in or near their gardens. Mrs. John Edwards (Abigail Fowle) at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. And another portrait of Mrs. Nathaniel Brown (Anna Porter Brown) at the San Francisco Fine Arts Museum. Gentry women were, essentially, business managers. They were in charge of running the household, planning meals, & providing medical care for everyone - including servants & slaves. Additionally, they were expected to dance, embroider, sew, & play a musical instrument or sing. Because they were responsible for managing household affairs, gentry women needed to read, write, & have mathematical skills.
