TitleA Letter and A Rose
Artist
George Randolph Barse Jr.
(American, 1861 - 1938)
Date1892
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsUnframed: 21 3/4 × 18 1/4 in.
SignedSigned lower right: "Barse --Jr-- / MDCCCLXXXXII"
SubmissionNA diploma presentation, June 11, 1900
Credit LineNational Academy of Design, New York, NY
Object number58-P
Label TextThe title of Barse's diploma contribution appears to be a visual pun as the model has been identified as the artist's wife, Rosa Ferraro (1861-1932). Ferraro had modeled for John Singer Sargent and according to family tradition, Barse became enamored of her after seeing her in several of Sargent's works. She was working as housekeeper for Charles C. Coleman in Capri when Barse sought her out. An 1893 review in The Magazine of Art praised the work for its drawing and composition, while finding fault with the artificial character of the "roses"--both flowers and woman.
