Emma in a Purple Dress

This portrait of George Bellows' wife, Emma Story, took over three years to produce and involved just as much dramatic struggle as the artist's well-known fight scenes. As Mrs. Bellows later wrote, "I remember the terrific struggle George had with the head. He scraped it out again and again. Finally one day he said 'get up on the model stand and I'll have another try.' I said, 'Well-you had better make it snappy, this dress will not hold out much longer.' That afternoon everything worked together for good-the head just flew on-and the painting was finished." The Museum also possesses a preparatory drawing by Bellows of the dress itself.

A member of the Eight, or Ashcan school, and best known for his boxing scenes, George Bellows also produced moving portraits, as seen here.