This intimate portrait presents the young woman’s face with rare delicacy and subtle modeling. The line, precise and fluid, defines the contours realistically, while the pastel adds a soft, luminous texture to the surface. The work reveals a keen sense of expression and physiognomy, demonstrating Pattee’s technical mastery at an early stage. In our view, it is a possible self‑portrait, executed while she was completing part of her artistic training at the Académie Julian in Paris under the guidance of Amélie Beaury‑Saurel.

After her European period, Pattee developed a notable career in the United States, establishing herself as a key figure in modern miniature painting, mastering both pastel and watercolor. An active member of the American Society of Miniature Painters, she received national and international recognition, including a medal at the Panama‑Pacific Exposition of 1915. Her works, including miniatures, portraits, and children’s book illustrations, are part of major public collections such as the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.