My Poor Sweet Little Angelica

19th century

Lilly Martin Spencer

Associated Names
Lilly Martin Spencer

Artist, American, born England, 1822 - 1902

The image features a baby lying on a cushioned surface. The baby is on its back with its head turned slightly to the side. The facial features are gentle, with wide eyes, a small nose, and an open mouth. The baby's hair is sparse. The baby is wrapped in a light fabric, likely a blanket or garment, covering the lower body. The shoulders and arms are exposed. The baby rests on soft bedding or a cushion. There is no jewelry or objects in the baby's hands. The background is a plain, light-colored surface, with some age-related marks. In the lower right corner, there is a handwritten note with words such as "little angel" and a poetic line. The focus is on the delicate depiction of the infant.

Media Options

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Artwork overview


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

a granddaughter of the artist; (Hirschl & Adler Galleries, New York); William and Abigail Gerdts, New York; gift to NGA, 2018

Associated Names

Inscriptions

lower right in graphite: My poor sweet litle Angelica / She took the cup of life to sip / but bitter 'twas to drain / She meekly put it from her lip / and went to sleep again

Wikidata ID

Q64593222

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