Norma Meldrum
Collection: Houston Public Library (HPL)
c. 1960
Oil on Canvas
Location:
Houston Public Library Central Branch - Julia Ideson, Norma Meldrum, n.d.
550 McKinney St.
1st Floor - Norma Meldrum Room
Houston, TX 77002
About the Artwork:
Norma Meldrum (1962)
by Harry Worthman
This portrait was painted by notable portrait artist Harry Worthman, born in New York City in 1909 and moved to Texas in 1948, who had been commissioned throughout the American Southwest, as well as in England, Mexico and Japan. The portrait shows Norma Meldrum, the daughter of Norman S. Meldrum who was a former trustee of the Houston Public Library. In 1899, Norma passed away from scarlet fever at the age of nine. Norma’s portrait currently hangs in the Norma Meldrum Children’s Room, which was founded in her honor when Mr. Meldrum donated $40,000 between 1900-1936 to develop the room and the Norma Meldrum Juvenile Collection, which contains over 3,000 children’s and juvenile books from 1810 to 1970. Norma wears a light blue dress with white lacing and a pearl necklace. In the background is a cloudy, blue sky and bushes of white, purple, yellow, and pink flowers. Norma seems to have picked about three pink roses, which often signify grace, gratitude, and joy. The piece is framed in the Baroque style, perhaps Rococo due to the more pronounced corner ornamentation balanced by empty spaces.
Norma Meldrum (1962)
por Harry Worthman
Norma Meldrum (1962)
by Harry Worthman
This portrait was painted by notable portrait artist Harry Worthman, born in New York City in 1909 and moved to Texas in 1948, who had been commissioned throughout the American Southwest, as well as in England, Mexico and Japan. The portrait shows Norma Meldrum, the daughter of Norman S. Meldrum who was a former trustee of the Houston Public Library. In 1899, Norma passed away from scarlet fever at the age of nine. Norma’s portrait currently hangs in the Norma Meldrum Children’s Room, which was founded in her honor when Mr. Meldrum donated $40,000 between 1900-1936 to develop the room and the Norma Meldrum Juvenile Collection, which contains over 3,000 children’s and juvenile books from 1810 to 1970. Norma wears a light blue dress with white lacing and a pearl necklace. In the background is a cloudy, blue sky and bushes of white, purple, yellow, and pink flowers. Norma seems to have picked about three pink roses, which often signify grace, gratitude, and joy. The piece is framed in the Baroque style, perhaps Rococo due to the more pronounced corner ornamentation balanced by empty spaces.
Norma Meldrum (1962)
por Harry Worthman
Este retrato fue pintado por el notable retratista Harry Worthman, nacido en la ciudad de Nueva York en 1909 y que se mudó a Texas en 1948, a quien se le habían encargado retratos en todo el suroeste de Estados Unidos, así como en Inglaterra, México, y Japón. El retrato muestra a Norma Meldrum, hija de Norman S. Meldrum, quien fue miembro del consejo directivo de la Biblioteca Pública de Houston. En 1899, Norma falleció a causa de la escarlatina a la edad de nueve años. El retrato de Norma cuelga actualmente en la Sala Infantil Norma Meldrum, que fue fundada en su honor cuando el Sr. Meldrum donó 40.000 dólares entre 1900 y 1936 para desarrollar la sala y la Colección Juvenil Norma Meldrum, que contiene más de 3.000 libros infantiles y juveniles que datan de entre 1810 y 1970. Norma lleva un vestido azul claro con encaje blanco y un collar de perlas. Al fondo se ve un cielo azul nublado y arbustos con flores blancas, moradas, amarillas, y rosas. Norma parece haber recogido unas tres rosas rosadas, que a menudo simbolizan la gracia, la gratitud, y la alegría. La obra está enmarcada en estilo barroco, quizás rococó, debido a la ornamentación más pronunciada en las esquinas, equilibrada por los espacios vacíos.