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“Biddy Mason,” Elizabeth Colomba’s 2006 painting, shows Biddy seated at an apothecary table with a scale and mortar and pestle in front of her, and beside a shelf of jars and tinctures. Behind her is a map of the United States, drawing attention to the great American west and California as the end of Biddy’s journey. The Dutch master Johannes Vermeer’s work informs the painting’s composition, but Biddy is its subject. She wears an elegant yet practical black frock with a wide lapel and balloon sleeves. She regards the viewer with a wise and confident gaze. Courtesy of Elizabeth Colomba.

Biddy Mason

UCSF Toland Hall Mural