Mystery Portrait of Black Woman Finally Identified After Six-Year Search

AI Briefing

• – A 19th-century portrait of a Black woman has been identified as a painting of Mary Seacole, a Jamaican-Scottish nurse who provided care to wounded soldiers during the Crimean War.
• – The Art Gallery of Ontario purchased the painting at an auction in 2020, and a team of researchers used DNA analysis and historical records to confirm the sitter's identity.
• – The painting is now on display at the gallery, providing a rare glimpse into the life of Seacole, who was often overlooked in historical accounts of the Crimean War.