The general consensus is that she was a model in Sargent's studio around 1901 and that Julie Heynman, a student of Sargent at the time, was also the first owner of this painting (McKibbin Papers, quoted in Ormond and Kilmurray, the Late r Portraits: The Undated portraits p.3)
As of 7/17/2004 the painting was offered for sale at Spanierman Gallery