The striking image is a family portrait of a beautiful nanny and the two children she cared for both in St. Thomas and with the family in Denmark.
Her name is Justina.
The two young girls are Emily Ottilie (1848-1933) and Annie Lætitia (1850-1933), both of whom were daughters of Otto Marstrand, who commissioned the painting.
Justina stands poised at the center wearing a traditional Afro-Caribbean headdress.
The vibrant colors of the madras fabric are beautiful.
The yellow, green and red colors come alive in this painting which was recently acquired by the Danish National Museum in Denmark.
This notecard is a tender reminder of the loving and nurturing relationship between nannies and the children they care for.