Titles

Only one title has been suggested:

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

Description

The photograph of the painting in Whistler's studio shows that it was a full-length portrait of a young woman, standing against a dark background. She wears a long-sleeved coat or dress, its simple A-line skirt having a broad trim round the hem. A fur tippet or cape is arranged round her shoulders. Her left arm rests below her waist, supporting her right arm, the right hand being raised nearly to her chin. Her head is tilted to her right, and she wears a round-brimmed hat adorned with flowers.

This appears to correspond to the description given by Malcolm Charles Salaman (1855-1940) except that the dress is not black. He described it as follows:

'a full length figure of a girl in an out-door black dress, with a fur cape and a becoming hat trimmed with flowers. The face is daintily pretty and piquant and the grace and spontaneity of the attitude are charming. She stands against a dark background.' 2

Sitter

The model was undoubtedly Maud Franklin (1857-ca 1941) , although she is not seen in person, in the photograph.