(French, 1669-1723) Portrait of a Young Woman Holding a Wreath of Flowers, said to be Lucy Pitt (1692-1723), unsigned, oil on canvas, 50 x 40 in.; carved wood frame with foliate and feather or leaf decoration, lined and restretched on late 19th century/20th century stretcher, scattered retouch at patch, throughout gown, arms, small points in face and limited in background affecting less than 10% of surface, crackle, stretched marks, canvas loose. Notes: Lucy Pitt married James Stanhope, 1st Earl Stanhope on February 24, 1714. Eighteenth century symbols of marriage found in portraits included the white satin gown, a symbol of joy, and a wreath of flowers representing maidenhood. Said to have been commissioned by Richard, the 2nd Earl of Stanhope. Provenance: Collection of Charles Edward Brodnax Hansell and Sylvia Hansell, Mimosa Hall, Roswell, Georgia; by descent in family

lined and restretched on late 19th century/20th century stretcher, scattered retouch at patch, throughout gown, arms, small points in face and limited in background affecting less than 10% of surface, crackle, stretched marks, canvas loose