(Massachusetts/Pennsylvania,1875-1976) Portrait of Isabel G. Temple's mother, Sarah Ann Egan Temple, circa 1908, signed lower right "Martha Walter", oil on canvas, 25-1/2 x 21 in.; fine original gilt wood and composition reverse profile frame,. Condition: original stretcher and tacking edges, crackle, some small abrasions with some paint loss, light grime, canvas slightly loose; frame with abrasions. Notes: Isabel Grace Temple was the daughter of Henry Frederick Temple (the mayor of Chattanooga in 1879 and from 1893-1913, the owner & founder of Chattanooga Furniture Company) and Sarah Ann Temple. Isabel Grace Temple traveled to New York to study with Martha Walter in the early 20th century. In a letter, Martha Walter makes mention of her mother visiting during the same period in which the artist did her portrait. The lot is accompanied by facsimiles of correspondence from the artist to Mr. Temple, to a relative of Isabel Temple, correspondence with Janet B. Allen, Martha Walter's niece and letters to and from Hammer Galleries. Transcription of a two-page letter from Martha Walter to Mr. Temple on Writing Room/ The Fifth Avenue Bank letterhead and dated January 12, 1936: “My dear Mr. Temple: I received your letter forwarded from Melrose Park, with your check for $600 enclosed. Strangely enough it was written on the same day as mine and they crossed. I appreciate your confidence and taking the one canvas before seeing it but feel sure one or the other will please you, if not both. Now about getting them there before the 20th I am not so sure. I have been so delayed in finding a suitable studio and so taken up with some other business that had to be attended to that all these boxes are still unopened, but I am arranging for it now. I will send the pictures in narrow frames I have here as I never send anything out without a frame. You will understand that both canvases and frames will no doubt need some attention to get them in condition after being packed away so long. And the time is short. I could not promise for the 20th but why not have them sent to Florida if I find I cannot make it. The box will not be large, and I'll rather have them to my liking before sending them out. So will you let me have the Florida address if that meets with your approval. If the frames do not suit we can get others later on. The tone also can always be changed. I'm sorry about the delay but it will be alright if you are pleased in the end. Thanking you for your check, I am very sincerely- Martha Walter" Transcription of another two-page letter from Martha Walter on stationery with the artist’s address hand written, not dated: “My dear Mr. Temple, I want to apologize for not answering your letter of so long ago about Isabella's portrait, I thought about it a lot and so much to see it again but never could see what could be done about it. Now comes Mrs. Mansfield's letter begging me to explain to you. You see, to Isabel and me, the canvas was finished and what she wanted. It was broadly painted and had the very qualities she so admired, which made her come to New York to study with me and what she was so eager to get. You can understand how I would wish it to remain as I painted it, or, if anyone else worked over it, I should expect it to be so noted on the canvas. I would make the suggestion you see another portrait of Isabel I painted about the same time, only that it is the same style of painting, equally broad in handling, etc., and is not at hand, but boxed with all the work of that period in a storage house in New York and to get at it, would involve considerable expense. If I should ever have any definite call for any of that work, I will let you see this other one of Isabel and if you like it better we can make arrangements about an exchange. There's also a portrait of your mother done while she was in New York visiting Isabel that winter. But none of my work was ever of the conventional type. Hoping you will understand and pardon my negligence, I am sincerely Martha Walter”. Provenance: Collection of the artist; by descent in the subject's family; The Estate of Sarah Temple Moore original stretcher and tacking edges, crackle, some small abrasions with some paint loss, light grime, canvas slightly loose; frame with abrasions