Margaret Ellinor Morse 

This is a portrait of Margaret Ellinor Morse, created in 1882 by Edward Robert Hughes, a British artist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite movement. The image, rendered with delicate pencil strokes, captures the sitter's youthful innocence, reflecting Victorian society's emphasis on idealized beauty and childhood purity. Hughes, who trained at the Royal Academy Schools, was deeply influenced by its academic traditions, evident in his meticulous attention to detail and pursuit of technical mastery. During the late 19th century, portraiture served as a means of social representation, often commissioned by affluent families to immortalize their lineage and status. By examining Hughes' other works, archival records of the Morse family, and exhibition catalogs from the period, we can deepen our understanding of the social milieu that shaped both the artist and his subject.