Two Women and a Boy – Summer 1846

Standing outdoors near a woven fence are two women and a young boy, with a vista of rolling green hills and trees. The woman on the left wears a green, blue and pink bias plaid dress with a double-layered skirt. The bodice is snugly fitted over her long-sleeved high necked white blouse. The dress has bracelet length pagoda sleeves edged with a narrow double row of scallops.

Similar scallops trim the wide lapels of her bodice. Her full skirt has two layers, the upper knee length and the lower to the ground. Both layers are hemmed with double scallops. She wears yellow gloves and a straw bonnet tied with yellow ribbons, and trimmed with daisies, red roses, and greenery. She carries an open lavender parasol with fringe, and she holds a purple flower. The woman on the right wears a dotted lavender dress The bodice has a narrow falling collar with a ruffled edge at a jewel neckline.

The bodice has a v shape from the dropped shoulder line, to the center front of the waist, trimmed with bands of eyelet threaded with green ribbon and another narrow ruffle. Each ribbon has a bow with fringed hems at the neck, waist, and the top of the sleeve. The sleeves are narrow and end with lace cuffs. The skirt has two layers with a ruffle where they join, and a scalloped hem. She wears yellow gloves and a straw bonnet trimmed with wide green ribbon and white trailing flowers on the side. She carries a furled blue parasol with fringe in one hand and gestures toward the young boy with the other.

The boy stands leaning against a small rake, most likely used as part of an outdoor game. He wears a yellow tightly fitted jacket with military style braid and buttons at the center front and trimmed with green edging. He has a white collar and a green bow tied at the neck. His gray and white striped trousers have a full cut narrowing to the ankle over his black and gray boots. His tan cap has a high crown, a bill, and a band of red and white plaid ribbon, with a flat bow.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges