Description

A woman standing, leaning forward, possibly resting on a stool. In her right hand she holds what may be a palette, a tray or plate. It is not entirely clear if she is painting or mixing paint or, indeed, cooking. Her dress has layers of pleats, with what appears to be an over-skirt gathered in at the waist. She wears a broad tippet over her shoulders, and a hat with a flat brim.

Sitter

The sitter looks like Beatrice Philip (Mrs E. W. Godwin, Mrs J. McN. Whistler) (1857-1896) , then Mrs E. W. Godwin, who was posing to Whistler at this time and also studied and worked in his studio. It is, however, just possible that it is Maud Franklin (1857-ca 1941), who was soon to part from Whistler as his chief model and partner.