The Proud Mother

American 19th Century

National Gallery of Art

This painting shows the upper body of a woman in a side profile view, facing the right, where a baby is held up. The woman has a long, pointed nose and thin lips, with her black hair styled up and decorated with a gold comb. She wears a red dress with puffy sleeves, a lace collar, and a gold pendant. She also wears gold hoop earrings. She is reaching one hand up towards the baby. The baby, held by the hand of an unseen person, wears a pale gray dress with lace details and a lacy cap over its head. The woman, baby, and hand all have pale skin. The background is brown with lighter areas around the woman and baby, and a section of red draping near the top left. The painting is an oval, and beyond that is a black rectangular border.