Depicts an unidentified ballerina, likely Julia Turnbull. Turnbull was the sister of Ryder’s childhood neighbor, Mrs. Jack Masten, and an acclaimed ballerina in New York City, participating in Fanny Elssler’s company, among others.
A daguerreotype depicting Julia Turnbull was the first daguerreotype likeness Ryder had ever seen as a youngster. The image was sent to Mrs. Masten, who showed it to the Ryder family. Turnbull later visited Ryder at his Cleveland studio, where the above image was taken.