Roseland the face of love fine oil painting annotated 1890

Harry Herman Roseland 1866 - 1950
Mary Voorhees - signed & annotated oil on canvas in ornate frame with glass
I date this painting by Roseland around 1890. Few paintings of the artist’s wife were made; ‘my fair coxswain’ was one of them, painted 1893. I deem my work slightly earlier than that.
It’s quite obvious; it was love. The autograph with the R’s substituted by X; the hidden message to which the out of whack anchor points (symbol of hope faith and salvation) to the anonymous To xX
Like in ‘my fair coxswain’ the love interest is painted with a veil, symbolising mystery spiritualism and transition. The large pupils hidden behind the veil betray a mutual connection.
The Brooklyn artist known for his depiction of African American woman in service of well to do white women mostly, many a time fortelling their future with cartomancy. Few artists seem more aware of the history of slavery than Roseland; as masterly depicted in ‘to the highest bidder’ which sold for well over 100k purchased by Oprah Winfrey. Extraordinary for a white artist to be this concerned with the fate of African Americans…
My painting oozes true love and devotion, strangely enough not often depicted in such disarmingly honest manner.
A masterpiece.