Titles

Only one descriptive title has been suggested:

• 'Portrait of Maud Franklin' (1980, YMSM). 1

Description

A full length portrait of a woman, in vertical format. Her dress appears to have been white or very pale in colour, narrow fitting, with ruffles around the low neck-line, gauzy three-quarter length sleeves, and a skirt with a broad gathered or pleated hem that spreads out behind her at the left. She is standing slightly turned to her left, with her head tilted, looking to her right. The background is plain and dark.

Sitter

The painting shows Maud Franklin (1857-ca 1941) standing. This is probably the earliest portrait of Maud, although she may have posed for Symphony in Flesh Colour and Pink: Portrait of Mrs Frances Leyland [YMSM 106] about the same time.

She posed to Whistler for many of his most beautiful prints and paintings, including Harmony in Grey and Peach Colour [YMSM 131], Arrangement in Black and Brown: The Fur Jacket [YMSM 181], Arrangement in Yellow and Grey: Effie Deans [YMSM 183], Arrangement in White and Black [YMSM 185], and Harmony in Pink and Red [YMSM 192].