Louise and Matilda Cheney
SubjectPortrait of
Louise Delano
American, 1891 - 1923
SubjectPortrait of
Matilda Delano Cheney
1922 - 2016
PhotographerPhotographed by
Unknown
Date1923
MediumPhotography; black and white photograph on paper
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 5 × 4 3/8in. (12.7 × 11.1cm)
ClassificationsGraphics
Credit LineGift of Mrs. George Wells Cheney, Jr.
DescriptionHalf length view of Louise Delano Cheney holding her infant daughter, Matilda "Molly" Delano Cheney. Louise is sitting in a wicker chair, on a porch or in a hallway. She is holding Matilda up with both hands, resting the baby on the arm of her chair. Louise is wearing a dress with flowing, elbow-length sleeves. Her hair is either cut short or pulled back into an updo. Matilda is wearing a light colored dress with a lace collar and a knitted diaper or pair of shorts. They are both smiling at the camera. There are decorative panels or windows in the top section of the wall behind them.
Object number1991.54.134
InscribedHandwritten in blue ink on verso: "Louise + Molly in Pekin" Handwritten in pencil on verso: "Mrs. Sherwood Cheney (#1)"
Handwritten in pencil in a different hand on verso: "Louise Delano / daughter of Frederick, / uncle of Franklin D. R."NotesDate note: Matilda was born in November of 1922. She appears to be a few months old in the photograph, indicating that the picture was probably taken in the Spring or Summer of 1923. Louise died in September of that year.
Cataloging worksheet in object file states the following: "Sherwood attended West Point and was a professional soldier. He was a Brigadier General during WW I and received the Distinguished Service Medal and the Croix de Guerre. Louise was the cousin of Theodore and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. She died around a year after the birth of her daughter in China."
On View
Not on view
