William McGregor Paxton was born in Baltimore in 1869 and spent his formative years in the Boston suburbs before moving to Paris to study under Jean-Léon Gérôme at the Ecole de Beaux Arts. A widely commissioned portrait artist in late 19th and early 20th century New England, Paxton was well known for his paintings of sophisticated women in elegant interiors.

The fashionable sitter in the present lot has been identified as Mrs. Works of Boston, Massachusetts. Rosy cheeks, fleshy arms, and scarlet hair suggest the sitter’s wealth and status. Her affluence is reinforced by the luxurious beaded dress, French-style chair, and rich textiles that surround her. Paxton plays masterfully with drapery and texture while maintaining focus on his glamorous patroness. Within her European-inspired environs, Mrs. Works exudes a uniquely American charm.

Paxton’s work may be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and Cleveland Museum of Art, among others.