Mr. Martin Clayman was an American business “tycoon” on holiday in the area and commissioned my mother to do this large painting. Her diary lists the price as $570 size with exclamation marks. At approximately $3,500 in 2024 dollars that would make a much needed contribution to her household budget even if some of that had to immediately go to the dentist.

Mr. Clayman was the co-founder of Artmark Fabrics Company, a mail-order fabric wholesaler selling decorator fabrics nationwide to decorators, department stores, and architects. The company headquarters were located in Frazer, Pennsylvania in the USA.

It is interesting that she showed herself to be the true professional and was able to complete the painting in a very short timeline and overcoming needing to have a wisdom tooth pulled right at the start of the whole project. I also love her diary notation at the end; “It’s me, It’s me” shouted the American Tycoon!

Note: This image was reproduced from a photograph in her portfolio album and she notes that she was not happy with the colour reproduction, I’ve done my best to correct it here.

Diary Entries