Question

Study the painting below by the 18th-century painter James Peale and then answer the question that follows.

Which of the following is the best description of the painting?
a. Women should be independent and valued in society
b. Women had a responsibility to teach Republican values to their children
c. Women should take an active role in the American revolutionary war

Answer 1

Women should be independent and valued in society, Women should be independent and valued in society, Women should take an active role in the American revolutionary war

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

The best description of James Peale's painting is that women, exemplified by Mary Claypoole, had a responsibility to teach Republican values to their children, emphasizing family life and an affectionate marital relationship. Option B is the answer.

The painting suggests that it is not about women taking an active role in the American Revolutionary War (option c).

Instead, the focus is on the family setting and the portrayal of Mary Claypoole as being on the same scale as her husband, which implies an equitable and affectionate relationship.

The mention of James Peale being influenced by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who wrote about the education of children and natural feeling, supports the idea that the painting reflects the responsibility of women in teaching values, specifically Republican values, to their children.

The correct answer is option B.