For some unknown reason, the sculptor wanted to commemorate a member of the family of Secretary of State William H. Seward (best known for his support of "Seward's Folly", which led to the purchase of Alaska) and he settled on Seward's daughter Olive as his subject. He had no portrait or photograph to work from, so he simply sculpted a Victorian lady. Later, when a photograph of Ms. Seward was found, it appeared that he had succeeded in capturing a likeness of her.