Elsie Cotton (1886 – 1962), known professionally as Lily Elsie, was an English actress and singer during the Edwardian era. She was best known for her starring role in the London premiere of Franz Lehár's operetta The Merry Widow. According to the Atlanta Constitution newspaper in America, writing in 1915: "Perhaps her face is nearer to that of the Venus de Milo in profile than to any other famed beauty. Nature never made a more brilliant success in the beauty business than she did with Lily Elsie." I would gladly have offered Ms.Elsie a glass of wine if she were sitting in my garden. Painted from a black and white photo, except for the garden and bird.