And it’s a telling detail not to be missed, since the artist Copley, so diligent in his re-creation of the reflection in the mahogany table, would likely not leave out such an item accidentally. There are no records of why Copley omitted the ring in the table’s reflection. It could be a comment on the state of Mrs. Winthrop’s marriage, or it could simply be the artist playing a visual game with the viewer.
