Description:Signed and dated lower left. The subject of the painting is Nance O’Neil (born 1874 in Oakland, CA – died 1965 in Englewood, NJ) who began her acting career during the silent film era. O’Neil was able to successfully transition to sound films and is best known for her roles in Cimarron (1931), The Rogue Song (1930), and Kruetzer Sonata (1915). O’Neil was infamously a close friend of Lizzie Borden for several years, leaving many with questions regarding the sexual nature of the women’s relationship.