This is a hand-tinted photograph based on original photograph of Ellen Herndon Arthur by Charles Milton Bell, professionally known as C. M. Bell. She was the wife of President Chester A. Arthur but died of pneumonia before he took office. According to tradition, each day fresh flowers were placed in front of this portrait while President Arthur was in the White House. In addition to this portrait, President Arthur commissioned a stained glass window of her to be placed in St. John's Episcopal Church, which he could see from the White House.