Ellen Day Hale was born into a prominent New England family, and, like her younger brother Philip Hale, was encouraged to pursue the fine arts from an early age. Her first teacher was likely her aunt, the watercolorist Susan Hale, and in 1873 she attended William Rimmer’s artistic anatomy classes. Ellen Hale began training with Helen Knowlton and William Morris Hunt in 1874, and after the classes were handed over to Knowlton, she joined efforts and taught a few lessons. The two women became close companions, and in the late 1870s they took Hunt’s advice to travel abroad to further develop their education. The pair left in the early 1880s for a nine month trip to Europe, where Hale enrolled at the Académie Julian and worked in the atelier of Carolus Duran in France. Upon returning to Boston Hale taught art classes at the Marlborough Street School, while also completing portrait commissions. 

This oil on canvas is a beautiful portrait attributed to Hale as it was purchased directly from her estate after her death in 1940. This painting dates to the turn of the 20th century and is unsigned by the artist. The painting is unframed and measures approximately 18 x 21 3/4 inches. There are condition issues with areas of loss of paint and a indent in the canvas as well as a small puncture. There are two tears along the top stretcher as well, the canvas has come loose off the nails along the top of the stretcher. The reverse has a paper label from French company that produced the stretcher and canvas. This is a stellar piece from a prominent American female impressionist!

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