Five Children of the Budd Family

American 19th Century

National Gallery of Art

This painting shows five children in a room. All the children have pale skin, rosy cheeks, and short blond hair. In the center, one child is seated on a yellow chair holding an open book. This child is wearing a blue dress with two gold necklaces. On the left, another child in a red one-piece garment holds the edge of the chair. A third child stands behind the chair, wearing a blue one-piece garment over a yellow shirt. Their hand is on the shoulder of the fourth child, who stands on the right, wearing an orange one-piece garment. This child's hand is on the head of the fifth child, who sits by the chair. This child wears a white dress and holds a small cat in their lap. The cat's fur is a mix of white, gray, and orange. The children stand in front of a green background, with a patterned red-and-green carpet underfoot.