The Menshek Girls with their Father

Original painting by Jeanne Ross

This is a portrait of the Menshek family on the bank of the Mississippi River in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Frank Menshek is in front, and from left to right Catherine, Margaret, Lucille Menshek) Margaret is my grandmother. It was likely taken somewhere between the High Bridge and the end of Randolph Avenue.

The Menshek family lived at 275 Cliff Street (built in 1900) and Superior Street, near the High Bridge on Smith Avenue. I am pretty confident the bridge in the background is not the High Bridge. Photos of the High Bridge from 1908 to 1912 do not look like this bridge.

Painted in the studio from a digital vintage photograph retouched by Jeanne Ross. It took 7 months and an estimated 516 hours to complete.

Painted in the studio with a limited color palette burnt siena, ultramarine blue, white

Oil on stretched heavy weight cotton canvas

October 9, 2023

36" x 48"