Miss Charlotte R. Williams dates from 1892. 1

Charlotte Carter Ritchie Williams (1861-1920) of Baltimore (later Mrs Walter Prescott Smith) sat to Whistler for a lithograph, Portrait Study: Miss Charlotte R. Williams c058, in 1892, and the oil portrait probably dates from the same period.

On 23 November 1892 George Aloysius Lucas (1824-1909) noted in his diary: 'Wrote Miss Charlotte Williams about her Whistler portrait'. After Whistler's death, Lucas noted on 18 September 1903 that he had written to 'FF [Frank Frick] 5a Cork Street; London, to see about Miss Williams Whistler portrait.' 2 Both references could concern arrangements to commission and trace either a lithograph or painting.

According to the Pennells, the oil portrait was painted in 1894, was not paid for, and never completed; this date is incorrect, although the rest of the information may be correct. 3