Roberts painted Minna Simpson, the then five-year-old niece of Roberts’ future wife, Lillie Williamson, 10 years before their marriage. Later in life Minna became a deaconess and married a clergyman named Johnson.

Roberts’ tonal palette – the dark background setting off Minna’s white apron, bonnet and lace – is a homage to the much admired international artists Manet, Whistler and to an even greater extent, Velásquez.