WERTHEIM, Mrs Henri P. (Clara Dorothy Wolff)

Clara Wolff (1876-1903) was the daughter of banker Abraham O. Wolff who lived at 33 West 57^th Street. She died in childbirth at her home, Cedar Court, in the Normandy Heights area of Morristown, New Jersey, a twin-villa house built by Carrere and Hastings next door to that of her sister Mrs Otto Kahn in the style of the Villa Medici in Rome; the baby died two hours after the birth and she did not regain consciousness. Her sister, Mrs Otto Kahn (Addie Wolff) (see: New York Times, August 16^th 1903), shared in her father, Abraham Wolff’s estate of $7 million when her husband and Henri P Wertheim were finally given probate (after a taxation case) in 1903.

In an undated letter in the artist’s papers, but from 1902, written from Cedar Court, Morristown, New Jersey reads as follows:

Dear Mr. Muller-Ury,

We have just hung the picture and it looks perfectly fine against the red. I think the likeness is wonderful – it really is exactly like my “mug”, and it is one of the most lifelike portraits I have ever seen, I am really awfully pleased with it and so is Harry, and we thank you most sincerely for the kind thought which prompted you doing it. I never though I would like my own portrait but now I find that I am tremendously pleased with it. You must come down soon and see how well it looks hung. –

      With cordial regards and renewed thanks

                I am, Very sincerely yours, Clara W. Wertheim.’

From this letter it may be surmised that Muller-Ury painted Mrs Wertheim as a present, possibly as a pair to the portrait of her husband.