Laura Matilda Lawrence

Painting

NSCDA-TN

Name/Title

Laura Matilda Lawrence

Entry/Object ID

Lawrence, Laura Matilda

Description

Waist-length portrait of a young woman in a dark green off-the-shoulder gown with lace inset or undergarment visible at the bust line and along shoulder. Sleeves are puffed. Subject's dark hair is up with curls hanging onto her left shoulder. She has fair skin and brown eyes. She is wearing no jewelry.

Artwork Details

Medium

Oil on Canvas

Collection

Private Collection

Made/Created

Artist

Earl, Ralph Eleaser Whiteside, approximately 1785-1838

Date made

1833

Notes

The portrait is very similar to a portrait done by Earl of the subject's twin sister, Caroline Minerva Lawrence (on this site), with similar background and a similar (but not identical) dress. The two may have been painted at the same time. The portrait has remained in the subject's family, handed down through the descendants of the subject's daughter Caroline Minerva Donelson Whitaker (named after her twin sister).

General Notes

Note

Laura Matilda Lawrence was the daughter of Dr. William Pitt Lawrence and Nancy Pomeroy Risley Lawrence of Nashville. She was born February 13, 1815. She married John Donelson, son of Severn Donelson and Elizabeth Rucker, on October 24, 1833.. (Severn was brother of Rachel Donelson—Mrs. Andrew Jackson—and the natural father of Andrew Jackson, Jr.) Laura Matilda Lawrence Donelson died April 4, 1844, two weeks after having given birth to a stillborn son, the couple's fifth child.

Created By

[email protected]

Create Date

July 30, 2026

Updated By

[email protected]

Update Date

July 30, 2026