From Martha Washington to Melania Trump: 250 years of first lady portraiture

Portraits of presidents' wives have evolved with the role, and although it remains highly gendered, a new exhibition aims to celebrate their contribution and to rectify the absences of women in US history'

Bess Truman, US first lady from 1945 until 1953, has not become the sort of historical figure people quote on Instagram. A woman's public role is to sit beside her husband, be silent, and be sure her hat is on straight," she said, even though, behind the scenes, she was nicknamed the Boss" and wrote many of President Truman's speeches.