This remarkable picture is a watercolor painted over a carte de visite
photograph. According to G. C. Williamson, DGR made the portrait in May 1861 while attending
at the bedside of his wife shortly after she gave birth to her dead child on 2 May. DGR gave
the picture to the woman who nursed Elizabeth through that illness. It was later discovered by
Lady Sudeley, who contacted Williamson to verify the authenticity of the picture. After
checking with both WMR and Fairfax Murray, who authenticated the picture, Williamson purchased
it on behalf of J. Pierpont Morgan for his famous collection of miniatures, which Williamson
catalogued. The picture was subsequently sold from the Morgan Library collection and passed to
the Walters Art Gallery.
The elaborately jewelled frame was added to the picture when it was acquired by Morgan.
A Catalogue Raisonné
Country Life