A compositional sketch for the portrait of Mrs Dennis on the notepaper of a Louisiana hotel.
According to the artist’s diary this portrait was finished completely on Friday, March 5, 1943. The sitter was the mother of Mrs. Howard Merrill (Georgina) of New Orleans whence the artist went to paint her. The diary indicates that he had problems getting paid, and on Monday October 25, 1943 he received a letter from Mr Merrill informing him that at the moment he was unable to pay for the picture, and by December 22, 1943 he had still not received his money.
The duotone photograph in the artist’s papers bears on the verso the stamp of photographer Peter A. Juley & Son, New York.
