Read the visual description
The image shows an elderly woman and man standing side by side. The woman is on the left, looking down, holding an umbrella. The man is on the right, hands behind his back. The woman has aged features, short curled hair, and wears a dress. The man has a moustache and beard, wearing a striped suit and hat. A small dog is between them, and the background consists of lush foliage.
National Gallery of Art · Drawing
"The Woman That Was"
George Du Maurier
- Medium
- pen and brown ink with brown wash over graphite on wove paper
- Dimensions
- sheet (drawing): 21.7 × 21.5 cm (8 9/16 × 8 7/16 in.) sheet (text): 13.5 × 13.8 cm (5 5/16 × 5 7/16 in.)
- Classification
- Drawing
- Accession number
- 2009.70.109
- Credit line
- Joseph F. McCrindle Collection
- Time span
- 1826 to 1850
- Department
- CG-E
Subjects and terms
- Woman
- Tree
- Dog
- Dress
- Man
Provenance
Joseph F. McCrindle [1923-2008], New York; Joseph F. McCrindle Foundation, 2008; gift to NGA, 2009.
Inscription
by artist in pen and brown ink on separate sheet: The woman that was (underlined) / Monsieur le Maréchal (who during the forties was / a dashing young military attaché at the French Embassy / in London): / "Ah, Duchess! and do you remember ze so / beautiful young lady Mary-Gwendolen Vere de Vere, zat / everybody went mad about ven I was in England? / Ven I tink of 'er, my earrt beat even now!" / The Duchess (née Mary-Gwendolen Vere de Vere): / "oh yes, Monsieur le Maréchal_I remember her only / too well!" / M. le Maréchal: "Vat 'as become ov 'er, Madame la / Duchess?" / Her Grace (with a sigh): "Elle n'est plus!"
NGA object ID 143655. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.