Nellie Jane Manning was a little six-year-old girl who died suddenly in 1873 of spinal meningitis. After her death [Abram Ross] Stanley began the portrait as a gift to her saddened parents because he was fond of the little girl who had often visited his studio [in Shullsburg, WI]. To make the portrait as authentic as possible, Abraham Stanley brought many of Nellie's personal belongings to the studio