c. 1900

Portrait of Mary Adeline Williams

American, 1844 - 1916

After the death of Eakins's father in December 1899, Eakins and his wife invited Addie Williams to come live with them. She did and remained a member of the household for almost four decades. Shortly after she moved in, Eakins painted this work, projecting more vitality, both in the sitter's expression and in the choice of her costume, than in his earlier painting of her. The stripes of her blouse, rendered in energetic strokes of orange-red paint, become another element in expressing character and mood.