Emma Morehead Gray

Browne painted Emma’s portrait in 1869. He portrayed Emma as very fashionable, in a royal blue dress with lace overlay. What appears to be pearls sit on her neck, but they are far too large, leaving the viewer to speculate that either Browne painted them larger than they actually were, or they were not pearls, but something lighter.

The presentation of this portrait is very similar to Letitia’s, which Browne painted around the same time. The dramatic drapery and classical architecture resemble the Grand Manner style that Browne seemed to fall back on throughout his career. Instead of the strength that underlies Letitia’s portrait, though, Emma seems to exude a gentleness, more similar to her mother.