In the 18th century, homes were places for many things—birth, education, religious devotion, work, death, and other activities that sometimes blurred the lines between public and private. People of different ages, ethnicities, and classes lived together. Wealthy families might board relatives or have free, indentured, or enslaved laborers. In this gallery, visitors encounter different types of homes and families, including Wampanoag, New England, and Spanish American.

Inspired by his diverse family tree, contemporary artist Hartman Deetz (Mashpee Wampanoag) created the gallery’s central installation. He selected several works from the MFA’s collection—many crafted by Native women—and made an altar using his own traditional medicines and other special items from his loved ones.

Made in 1747, John Greenwood’s portrait of his family gives a sense of the life of an Anglo-American painter from Boston. Seeing the artist together with his extended family, visitors can sense not only a great artistic ambition, but also see the accomplishments and literary interests of the women. Meanwhile, casta (caste) paintings used family units to grapple with racial diversity in New Spain, but can hold new meanings for audiences today.