I am absolutely ecstatic to share with you this George Healy painting of Mary (Jauncey-Thorn) de Varaigne du Borg and her daughter Jeanne-Marie. This photo has been shared with me by my French cousins to whom I send many, many thanks!! We believe that Healy painted this around 1858-60 and that Jeanne Marie is about 20 years old, which would put Mary in her early-to-mid forties. There’s almost a melancholy to the portrait. And I love Mary’s tender hand on Jeanne-Marie’s shoulder. Beautiful!

I had previously mentioned this painting in my post on the lost portraits. I am particularly grateful to the owners of the painting, who have so kindly agreed to let me put it in the book. Isn’t it amazing!!