Titles

One title, with varying punctuation, is known:

• 'Grey and Silver – La Petite Souris' (1898, ISSPG). 1
• 'Grey and Silver: La Petite Souris' (1980, YMSM). 2

'Grey and Silver: La Petite Souris' is the preferred title, to conform with other titles. The delicate face of the model, framed with soft brown hair, and her fluffy grey boa, perhaps inspired the title, which is translated as 'The Little Mouse'. She was not, as has been suggested, holding a mouse!

Description

Grey and Silver: La Petite Souris, The Hunterian

A half-length portrait of a young woman, looking at the viewer, but slightly turned to her left. She has on a grey fur or feather boa, which she holds close around her neck with her right hand, on which she has a pale grey glove. Her hair is light brown and curly, falling over her forehead in a short fringe. The portrait is in vertical format.

Sitter

Muriel Smith (1883-1923). She posed for several portraits around 1898, including Violet and Blue: The Red Feather [YMSM 503].