18th century oil on canvas portrait depicting a lady with dark hair and eyes, waist length, wearing a white dress with blue sash, within a black painted oval, with armorial or heraldic shield painted in the upper left corner. Maltese export license stating the painting was removed from Malta in 1978 with an ultimate destination of San Clemente, California pasted, en verso of canvas. Housed in a giltwood frame with projecting corners accented by carved rosettes. Painting: 30" H x 25" W. Frame: 39" H x 34" W.

PROVENANCE: The collection of Dr. Andrew Wilkerson, by descent from the estate of Vernon and Vicki Meche, Iron City, Tennessee.

CONDITION: Painting has been adhered to a later canvas on newer stretcher. UV light reveals several spots of inpainting to chest and neck area along left side and line of inpaint just above subject's head. Other scattered inpainting to the background. Craquelure throughout. The oval appears to have been added later to mask paint abrasions probably caused by being in a previous frame with an oval opening; there is some cracking and tenting to paint along the oval in some spots. A few small light-colored spots, possibly bloom, near left edge of canvas. Scattered minute flakes and areas of grime. Frame in overall good condition with scattered loss to gilt paint, especially in lower left corner.