History:The painting is entitled Portrait of Two Children with Dog and Rabbit. This is a full length double portrait of a boy about 13 years of age and a girl of about 7 years. The two children are facing the viewer against a background of hills, trees and rose hued sky. There is a spotted dog to their right that is viewed in profile. The girl, on the right, is wearing a dotted white dress trimmed in lace. On her right leg is a knee high white sock and blue slipper. The sock and slipper for her left leg and foot are lying on the ground and her left leg is bare. She is holding a brown and white rabbit. The boy is standing to the right of the girl and has a bow and arrow in his left hand while his right arm is around the neck of the dog. He is barefoot and is wearing a red and black plaid shirt with a white lace collar and tan pants. The boy has brown eyes and brown hair that is parted on the side.
Notes:These children are believed to be James O. Shackelford Jr. and his sister Gertrude. According to the 1860 Federal census, these are the only Shackelford children to fit the possible ages of these children.
