Lewis Bloomington Slocum [a.k.a. Lew Bloom]; his niece, The Oranges, New Jersey.[1] (sale, American Art Association-Anderson Galleries, New York, 29 October 1931, no. 62, as _The Artist's Garden: East Orange, N.J._); Abner S. Werblin, Larchmont, New York;[2] (sale, American Art Association-Anderson Galleries, New York, 6 May 1937, no. 31, as _The Artist's Garden: East Orange, N.J._); Chester Dale [1833-1962], New York; gift 1954 to NGA. [1] Letters from Susielies M. Blakelock, 15 September and 6 December 1991 (in NGA curatorial files), provide this provenance information. Lew Bloom (Lewis Bloomington Slocum), a popular vaudeville actor, has long been identified as one of several friends who bought paintings from the artist in times of particular financial need. Blakelock reputedly provided Bloom with occasional piano accompaniment for his act. (Lloyd Goodrich [_Ralph Albert Blakelock Centenary Exhibition_, Exh. cat. Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, 1947, 26] was the first to note Bloom's relationship with Blakelock.) Bloom was identified in 1931 as the first known owner of the National Gallery's painting in the American Art Association Anderson auction catalogue. Susielies Blakelock, the wife of the artist's grandson, cites extensive interviews with the artist's children as the source for the information that the two names actually refer to the same owner. She also provides the undocumented information that the painting was executed around 1882, that Bloom purchased it for $100 in 1887 or 1888, and that his niece (who used the name Slocum) inherited several of her uncle's paintings by Blakelock and later kept in touch with the artist's family. Early twentieth-century newspaper clippings that relate to Bloom (Billy Rose Theatre Collection, New York Public Library) make no mention, however, of a Slocum alias and refer to several of the actor's family members as having the surname Bloom. [2] Mary Vandergrift, Parke-Bernet Galleries, in a letter of 14 November 1964 (in NGA curatorial files), indicates that the consignor of the painting was Albert Goldberg, New York. It is unclear whether he was the owner or an agent for the owner.