Lady on Park Bench

This portrait created by Villers¹ in the year of the French Revolution shows a young lady with powdered, curly hair and rural clothing in a casual posture. The background is so different from other pictures that the observer might suppose that it shows natural scenery. Holding a letter, the lady is resting her left arm on the back of the bench. We can see a five-stringed instrument and a sheet of music on the bench on her right,² and above this there are climbing roses. This portrait miniature is a declaration of love on the part of the lady: Her right hand is pointing to her heart, her right breast is partly revealed, and the name of the beloved recipient of the picture is written on the letter: “Mon cher Edouard”.
J. S. O.