I've had a postcard of this painting hanging either in my bedroom or at the office, since my college days. The original painting hangs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, to which I practically lived next door while attending the Art Institute of Philadelphia. So I've seen the original painting quite a number of times.
One of my favorite memories of my time at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, during my school years, was sitting along the Schuylkill River outside the Museum's west entrance (near the old Waterworks). I was drawing in a sketchbook, with the assistance of four young children who had taken an interest in what I was doing and had joined me. Their mother, sitting not far away, had nothing but frowns for me, as she watched us. But she didn't say anything, she just seemed unhappy about her kids enjoying an art session with me. I don't know why she was irritated, I suspect that she didn't get out much! Anyway, the kids had a fabulous time drawing in my sketchbook. I learned their names, which I remembered for a number of years, but have since forgotten. I wonder if today maybe they still enjoy visiting the museum, and perhaps even remember the happy afternoon that they spent with me. Perhaps their memories of the event recall me as some great and well known artist, such as Salvador Dali. :) Well, I like to imagine!
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