Ernest Walter Histed

This is the earliest known solo photographic portrait of Greene, taken by the British-born photographer E. W. Histed, presumably at his Fifth Avenue studio about a half-mile north of J. Pierpont Morgan's Library. Before Greene sat for him in 1910, Histed had photographed countless luminaries from Queen Victoria to Mark Twain. Both his 1898 portrait of the actor Lily Hanbury and this 1910 photograph of Greene depict the subjects in elegant profile.

BG to BB, 4/19/10 (65; possible reference to this photograph): “I will have my photograph taken when I return from Boston on the 15th of May – I am too worn out now – You would not recognize me & I weigh fully fifteen pounds less than when you saw me last – “Aint – Grand?””

BG to BB, 6/9/10 (68; possible reference to this photograph): “I am sending you a “real” photograph such as you demand today – It may look rather sad for the simple reason that I was thinking of you all the time it was being taken [underlined multiple times: (honestly)] & that always makes me sad – Even if we meet soon & for a long time I shall never get enough of you to make up for all this hideously long time”