The first years of the 1800’s found Charleston the wealthiest city, and area, of the US. It was still the reign of agriculture with rice and cotton flowing from the port here.

One of the measures of  wealth was the family portraits. They were expensive and time consuming.

There may have been money and culture in the heart of Charleston, but outside town was swamps, marshes, with the heat and insects that go with it.

Artist in general made little money and Charleston had few. Most of the portraits hanging in the grand houses were painted by one of the first women portraitist in the US. Of course I don’t know her name.

I believe the following were her work.

Obviously Black and White are my photographs of choice for these old homes.