America, late 19th century / 1899
The Blue Gown (Portrait of Ethel Coe)
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs The Blue Gown (Portrait of Ethel Coe) as portrait miniature (America, late 19th century · 1899).
A handwritten label on the back of this portrait miniature revealed the sitter’s identity.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this portrait miniature as watercolor on ivory and credits Martha S. Baker (American, 1871–1911).
The museum's collection notes: Martha S. Baker was best known for painting portrait miniatures on ivory. The sitter in this example was not only a fellow artist, but likely one of her former students. Interestingly, the miniature remained in Baker’s possession at the time of her death and was later gifted by her relatives to the museum.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtThe Blue Gown (Portrait of Ethel Coe)Original explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.