Louise Howland King (Mrs. Kenyon Cox)

Kenyon Cox, born Warren, OH 1856-died New York City 1919 · 1892

Kenyon Cox gave this portrait as a wedding gift to his young bride and former student, Louise Howland King. His mother saw it before she met Louise, and later reported that she was relieved and surprised at how pretty her new daughter-in-law was. Cox responded to this backhanded compliment by telling his mother that most people thought the painting well done and very much like Louise. (Morgan, Kenyon Cox, 1856-1919: A Life in American Art, 1994)