John Singleton Copley incorporated references to the natural world into his paintings to emphasize his subjects’ wealth and social status. The sparkling gilt trim on the vest of Joseph Hooper and the gold-embroidered belt of Mary Harris Hooper’s Turkish-inspired dress reflect both the opulence and fashion of the time. These portraits also indicate the importance of plants in colonial trade. Joseph was a manufacturer of cordage, the ropes and rigging crucial to shipping in 18th-century oceanic commerce. Cordage was made from fibers of hemp, a plant native to Asia and introduced by Spanish colonists to the Americas. Mary holds what seems to be a marigold, a flower that originated in Central and South America. Brought to Europe and used in offerings to the Virgin Mary, it became known as “Mary’s gold.”