This Motherless Child

Artist: Elizabeth "Grandma" Layton

Throughout her career, Elizabeth Layton chose not to sell any of her drawings, but gave them all away. She considered her discovery of art a gift; she chose to share it with others. Don Lambert, a Topeka reporter "discovered " Layton shortly after she began drawing. He introduced Layton to William G. Bartholome, MD, MTS, a pediatrician and ethicist at KUMC. Bartholome's ensuing friendship with Layton eventually resulted in her gift of 20 drawings, including the "This Motherless Child" series, to the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Elizabeth Layton describes the Motherless Child as a frail, elderly person, who, like a very young child, has become dependent on someone else. "This Child is old, so the Mother is gone, or at best not able to care for her own. Because this Child has lived many years, experience adds wisdom to the personality, and there is pride, dignity and independence of spirit calling for respect along with love."

To assist the viewer in understanding what the artist has tried to portray, we have included short texts, written by the artist, regarding each separate drawing.

Please click on picture for larger image and description.