Mother and Two Children – Winter 1854

A woman stands indoors near two children. The woman wears a three-tiered ruby red dress. Each tier is edged with three thin black stripes. She wears a heavy black velvet mantelet with embroidered Oriental style edges, indicating she has just come in from the cold November weather, or is planning to leave. Her collar and loose open cuffs are made of white lace ruffles, and she wears a green silk bonnet accented with roses and white lace inside the brim. It is tied with wide green ribbons. She wears yellow gloves and a wide gold bangle bracelet on each wrist. In her left hand she holds the boy’s cap, as if to place it on his head. Her left hand rests on the head of the boy who gazes up at her.

He wears long gray trousers, a white pleated shirt and white waistcoat, a burgundy-colored cravat and a fitted blue jacket. The jacket has notched lapels. He raises his hand to take hold of his black flat brimmed cap. Next to him is a young girl who holds his hand and looks up at the woman. The girl wears a full skirted knee length blue satin dress with elbow length sleeves decorated with darker blue bows on the skirt and bodice. She wears a white blouse with elbow length sleeves ending in full lace ruffles, and lace edged white pantalettes. She wears blue ankle boots and a white bonnet trimmed with pink flowers, white lace, and white ribbons. They stand in a well-appointed room with wall paneling, parquet floors, and upholstered furniture.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges