Portrait of Sarah Louise Spencer

Date1842

Artist Henry Walton (1804-1865)

MediumOil on canvas

DimensionsUnframed: 33 1/2 x 27in. (85.1 x 68.6cm) and Framed: 39 x 32 1/2in.

Credit LineGift of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller

Object number1936.100.8

DescriptionA full length portrait of a young girl standing in a room, and holding a doll in her right hand and a basket in her left. The child's features must be depicted in a realistic manner as they are not very attractive. She has shoulder length brown curls, wide set blue eyes, and a large, flat nose. The child wears a rose dress, green and black cross barred stockings, black slippers, and twisted strands of coral beads. The doll wears a yellow dress. The background of the room setting shows yellow and grey figured wall paper, with a white wooden baseboard. At left is red drapery. A late empire table is covered with a grey figured table cloth. To the left of the child is a scroll foot stool covered with black and red material (mohair?) and brass tacks. Modern replacement 3 1/8” gilt molded frame.
Label TextAccording to an inscription on the reverse of the canvas, Sarah Louisa Spencer was "aged 1 yr 1 m" when Henry Walton portrayed her. Her original doll probably had a composition head with molded hair and wooden arms and legs.
InscribedA painted inscription on the back of the progoma; canvas reads "Sarah Louise Spencer/ Aged 1 yr 1 m/Painted by H. Walton, 1842."
ProvenancePurchased from Katrina Kipper, Accord, Mass. by Mrs. Rockefeller. Given to C. W. by Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, Jr.