Winthrop Chandler was an American artist who is considered one of the most important provincial painters of the Revolutionary War period. He is known for realistic portraits of his family and friends. One of his most accomplished portraits is of his sister-in-law Mrs. Samuel Chandler; née Anna Paine, (born in 5 Dec 1738 and died in 2 Feb 1811).

The hallmark of Chandler’s style was precise rendering of the elements of the sitter. In the current picture the minutely detailed neck area reveals enlarged goiter.

Several penitmenti were observed either by the naked eye and some by X radiograph [1]. Mrs. Chandler’s cap originally extended to her hairline, and the bow was once placed at the nape of her neck. It is possible that the current position of the bow was placed in order to conceal the enlarged thyroid gland.

figure a

Concealing Enlarged Thyroid