Mrs. Gilder and Child
Datec. 1890-1910
Artist
Lisa Stillman
(American artist, 1865–1946)
MediumPhotographic reproduction of drawing
Dimensionssheet: 9 1/4 × 7 5/16 in. (23.5 × 18.6 cm)
Credit LineGift of Mrs. S. S. Auchincloss, 1974
Object number1974-136
On View
Not on viewClassificationsPHOTOGRAPH
Label TextThe label on the back of this photographic reproduction of a drawing by Lisa Stillman, suggests the sitter is the wife of Richard Watson Gilder. Gilder married the artist, Helena de Kay in 1874. Helena was a close friend of the Pre-Raphaelite artist, Marie Spartali Stillman, the step-mother of Lisa, creator of this image. Lisa, who was the daughter of the American journalist, artist and photographer, William Stillman, by his first wife, spent a significant amount of time in the U.S. where she developed a broad circle of friends, including the Gilder family. Helena and Richard had seven children, all born well before Lisa Stillman was working as an artist. It is suspected that this 'Mrs Gilder' may well have been the wife of one of Richard and Helena's sons, who would have been of the same generation as Lisa.