The youngest of Rebecca Levy Tobias andTobias Tobias’ seven children, AmeliaBarned Tobias was born in 1825 in New York. The family establishedstrong links with the Hendricks clan, with sisters Fannyand Harriet and brothers Isaac Alfredand Henry all marrying children of Harmonand Frances Hendricks. In 1851 Ameliamarried painter Jacob Hart Lazarus,author not only this portrait of Amelia, but several others in thecollection—especially of members of the Tobias and Hendricksfamilies. They had only one child, Emily. A generous philanthropist,upon her death Amelia left thousands of dollars to organizations,both Jewish and secular, including Mt. Sinai Hospital, HebrewTechnical School, United Henrew Charityies of the City of new York,Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and and theManhattan Eye an Ear Hospital. Her greatest patronage, however, wentto the arts, with the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the CorocranGallery and the Metropolitan Museum of Art each receiving largebequests. At the latter she established a fund for acquiring Americanart and also bequeathed some of her private collection of art andobjects. Several years earlier Amelia and Emily had made acontribution to the museum for the establishment of the Jacob H.Lazarus Traveling Fund.