La Mère Gérard (2) dates from 1858 or 1859: the dated signature is partly rubbed out.

La Mère Gérard (2), Washington County Museum of Fine Arts

La Mère Gérard (1), Colby College Museum of Art

The portrait is closely related to other portraits of the sitter, La Mère Gérard (1) [YMSM 026] and the etching La Mère Gérard [24].

On 28 October 1858 the Maison Fontaine, frame-makers at Cité Bergère, No. 2, Faubourg Montmartre, No. 6, Paris, sent Whistler a bill for purchases over the previous year, including 'Deux bordures toiles de 2 en 3° canaux' (Two frames for canvas size 2 with 3° reeded mouldings). 1 The French canvas size 2 was 24 x 19 cm for a figure subject, 24 x 16 cm for a landscape and 24 x 14 cm for a marine. La Mère Gérard (2)'s canvas at 24.1 x 17.8 cm is close to the French figure size 2 canvas, but does not match it precisely. It is possible that the canvas was originally slightly wider, and has been cut down.