A recently added paper label on the reverse identifies the lady depicted in the present portrait as Abigail Adams. This alludes to an identification of the sitter as Abigail Adams, née Smith (1744-1818), wife of the American statesman John Adams (1735-1826), one the of Founding Fathers of the United States and 2nd President of the United States. He frequently sought her advice on political matters and she was well informed on issues within her husband's administration and had influence within it. In 1784 she joined her husband on his diplomatic post in Paris and from 1785 to 1788 she was in London however there is no record of Engleheart having painted her during these years. A 'Mr Adams' and 'Mr Adams' are recorded in the artist's fee book for 1805, presumably representing two separate portraits, as opposed to a double-portrait.