Help with signature - painting 1944

I do not currently own this but am thinking of purchasing. Having trouble with the signature. Appreciate any help. I have tried playing with filters and contrast but the first initial and middle letters of the last name have me stumped! appreciate any help.
approx size is 24x32. Puzzler!

 

H W Chalkley?

Any chance you're in the DC area? From the obituary of Dr. H.W. Chalkley it mentions that he renewed his interest in painting after he retired from NIH in 1952 and won some awards. Possible he had painted some before that I guess.

https://nihrecord.nih.gov/sites/recordNIH/files/pdf/1975/NIH-Record-1975-10-07.pdf

 

Thanks! I'll drill down on him. Yes painting is in DC.

 

Talented amateur

 

Harold W. husband of Zora. That may well be she. (She was 52 in 1944. Perhaps portrait a bit young?)

Debora

 

Love how it captures the era -- the hairdo, the dress, the upholstered chair. And love, love the period frame.

Debora

 

Yeah that's what I like about it too.

 

@Debora found this picture of Zora Madge Kennedy Chalkley (Ancestry) not sure the origin, could only grab the image. https://mediasvc.ancestry.com/image...CManager&NamespaceID=1093&MaxSide=800

 

Well, isn't that fun! Could be same woman -- slim, blonde -- and same artist. 1930s from clothing.

Debora

 

yeah, i love this one

 

H W Chalkley is my grandfather, Harold William Chalkley. The painting of the woman sitting at the typewriter is my grandma, Zora Madge Chalkley, nee Kennedy. She is sitting in the library of their home on Highland Avenue in Bethesda, MD. What a wonderful surprise to see this post. The "seated woman" is not a portrait of Zora.

 

How wonderful!

 

How interesting! Thank you sharing that information. Is the portrait of the "seated woman" by your grandfather as well? And if so, do you know who she might be?

Debora

 

The portrait of the 'seated woman' is by my grandfather. I don't know who the woman is. I am wondering if the subject is one of Harold William's half-sisters, Pamela Howland Chalkley or Hilda Marcia Chalkley. I certainly recognize the sofa chair she is sitting in. My grandparents had chairs like that in their library ... tapestry-type upholstery in a sage-green botanical print. I was told that the woman at the typewritter is my lovely grandmother, Zora. My grandma had very dark hair as a young woman, but the woman in the portrait has light-colored hair. Maybe my grandpa just want to change the hair color. My grandparents had beautiful blue hydrangeas in their side yard, so it is interesting to see those large blue flowers in a vase by the woman. My cousin, Judy Chalkley, owns that portrait and I posted it on my Ancestry page, linked to my wonderful grandfather, Harold William.

 

Very nice to have a family member give some information. Welcome to Antiquers, @Clare !