Mrs. Jeannette Kittredge Watson

Jeannette M. Kittredge graduated from Wheaton Female Seminary in 1902. Just over a decade later, she married Thomas J. Watson, the founder of IBM, with whom she had four children. In 1954, Mrs. Watson received an Honorary Degree from Wheaton. In addition to providing the funds to build Watson Fine Arts, which opened in 1962, she donated six paintings to the college. Among these was Audrey, the Shepherd Lass. We are not certain when and how she acquired the painting but it appears that her husband purchased it at a Parke Bernet auction in New York City in 1942. It is believed that the portrait of Mrs. Watson, shown here, and Audrey, the Shepherd Lass were both displayed in the family home at 4 East Seventy-fifth Street, NY, NY.

Text Sources:

Wheaton College Archives

Wheaton College Permanent Collection

Image Sources: