Essie, Ruby und Ferdinand Wertheimer c. 1900

John Singer Sargent painted "Essie, Ruby und Ferdinand Wertheimer" in the late 19th or early 20th century, likely in either the United States or Europe. Sargent was an American artist known for his portraiture of the upper classes during the Gilded Age. This painting reflects the social norms of its time, capturing the wealth and status of the Wertheimer family. The children's clothing and their leisurely pose suggest a life of privilege and ease. The inclusion of dogs as companion animals in the family portrait was typical of upper-class portraiture. The painting is an interesting art-historical source. Archival records about the Wertheimer family and the socio-economic conditions of the time would offer insights into the painting's cultural context and Sargent's artistic choices. Through that research we can better understand the social structures reflected in the artwork.