The Chaplain’s Daughter c. 1868

Editor: So, here we have Frederick Walker’s watercolor, "The Chaplain's Daughter." There’s such a palpable sense of anticipation in this tiny work. What do you make of the dynamic between the figures? Curator: It’s interesting, isn't it? I feel a narrative unfolding, almost like a scene from a novel. The girl in white, being fussed over, seems like the eye of the storm, doesn’t she? The others, peering in from the shadows, offer a contrasting energy. Does it make you wonder about their relationship to the girl? Editor: Absolutely. It’s as if they’re observing a transformation. I hadn’t considered it that way. Curator: Perhaps Walker wanted to explore ideas of innocence, class, and social expectation. I think it succeeds marvelously. It’s a painting that whispers secrets, don’t you think? Editor: I do now! It’s incredible how much story Walker packs into such a small space.