Who is this woman?

Cafe Society
1

Can you identify the woman in the portrait on the left? (To actually see the portrait, you will need to follow the link, click on “Lillian Russell” in the left column, scroll down to the first row of photos and click on “2321 Chest.” I was unable to make a direct link.

I don’t think that the portrait actually is of Lillian Russell. She lived in a later period.

I know that this glimpse is small and blurry, but it is all that I have. The portrait is a very familiar one and I see it often and even own a small one. A large version was above the piano in a friend’s house when I was growing up. If you are familiar with that painting in general, you may be able to recognize this pitiful blurred view of it.

If you don’t know the lady, do you know the artist or anything about the painting?

Judging from her very formal dress and hairstyle, I would guess that she lived around 1840 – give or take 20 years. But that’s a guess.

Coincidentally, the copy that I own I discovered on vacation as we passed through Virginia. It was in an antique shop in a small town. I knew only one person who had lived in that town. It was the friend I had known in childhood – the one whose mother had the painting above her piano.

2

Crud.

I remember seeing those portraits in my history texts when I was in school. Can’t remember their names for the life of me, though.

3

Not a painting. It really is a photograph of Lillian Russell.

4

jayjay, thanks, but that’s not the one I’m talking about. There is a photograph of a chest with two oil paintings above it. The one on the left is a woman (hatless) in formal dress. And she is the mystery woman in my life.

5

Heh…that’s what I get for not reading the OP thoroughly!

6

Damn…both of the paintings above that chest are just vaguely familiar. I have to echo lizardling…my brain is screaming “history text!”

7

Reminded me of Julia Tyler, but does not help Zoe.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/firstladies/jt10.html

8

Hmm, hard to say unless one specifically recognizes that painting. Perhaps it’s the Empress Eugenie, shown here in later years, every bit the cat who ate the canary:
http://www.hants.gov.uk/record-office/papers/images/paper22.jpg

9

Let’s see if my web skills are greater. linky

10

Let’s give those Arty-Fahrty types in Cafe Society a whack at this one.

Moved from GQ by samclem.

11

Could she be Elise McKenna (as portrayed by Jane Seymour)?

http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0081534/

12

My childhood is about 30 years older than that movie! (But now you’ve made me tear up.)

Thanks for moving the SamClem. Good idea.

And LordVor, I am impressed. Thankee.

Slithy Tove, That is the Empress Eugenie?? I guess I expected her to stay perpetually young.

lightthatup, the similarity to Julia Tyler is amazing! Close enough that I can’t help but wonder if it is another portrait. And I also wonder how in the world you knew about Julia Tyler!

jayjay, I wish I could tell you that I am secretly extraordinarily wealthy and would pay your way around the world to research this question for me. Alas. I’m not. But you have been kind to check back. Thanks!