Mother by a Cradle, Portrait of Leonie Rose Davy-Charbuy, 1887
Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)
Oil on Canvas, 61 X 45.5 cm
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
(Vincent van Gogh Stichting)
F 369

Leonie Rose Davy-Charbuy was the niece of the art dealer Pierre Firmin-Martin. She lived in her uncle?s house, which is where this portrait was painted (and which also explains the number of paintings in the background). Martin was a friend of Theo?s, and had a number of Vincent?s works in his shop.

In 1887 Theo wrote to his mother, SÀVincent has painted a number of singular portraits which have turned out well, but he always does them without payment.? Van Gogh may have painted the niece of a well-known art dealer in order to establish a reputation as a portrait painter, and thereby to earn a living by it.