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2021-51,A&B, Portrait
Portrait of a Ludwell Girl
2021-51,A&B, Portrait

Portrait of a Ludwell Girl

Date1735-1745
Attributed to Charles Bridges (1670 - 1747)
OriginAmerica, Virginia, James City County
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsOverall: 30 × 32in. (76.2 × 81.3cm) Framed: 37 × 32in.
Credit LineMuseum Purchase in memory of Graham S. Hood
Object number2021-51,A&B
DescriptionA three-quarter-length portrait of a girl standing and turned, her body nearly in profile to the viewer's right. Her head is turned to her proper right, towards the viewer, her gaze on the viewer. Her right arm is outstretched and holding a basket of flowers containing a peony, white rose and rosebud, and a blue morning glory. She also has flowers in her hair—a pink rose, a blue iris (?) and white shadbush flowers. She is dressed in a fashionable rich blue dress with deeply scalloped bodice and red gown. The carved and gilt frame is original.
Label TextThis charming portrait was painted by Charles Bridges, one of early Virginia's most significant artists. Bridges arrived in the colony in the mid-1730s and quickly earned the patronage of the leading families. While research is ongoing to confirm the identity of this young sitter, tradition suggests she is a child of the Ludwell family of Greensprings Plantation near Williamsburg. The Ludwells held prominent roles in local government and at the College of William and Mary. They occupied their estate for over 100 years, witnessing numerous historic events including occupation by American forces under the command of the Marquis de Lafayette during the Revolutionary War.

The imported English frame is original to the portrait. It was originally silvered rather than gilded.




ProvenanceAccording to family history, the painting descends from John and Lucy Ludwell Grymes to their son Phililp Grymes to his daughter Jane Grymes (Mrs. Samuel Sayre) to her daughter Mary Grymes Sayre (Mrs. Carter Braxton II) to her sister-in-law Norma Crena Braxton (Mrs. William Harwell Macon) to her son William Hartwell Macon II. In 1895, the painting moved to the Wythe House then owned by Macon's mother-in-law, Mrs. Randolph Harrison, and later the Orlando-Jones House. It was next placed in home of Mrs. Peyton Nelson (Tazewell Hall). Before 1923, it was sold to Mr. Lambert who sold it back into the family to Edmonia Fitzhugh Tomlin (Mrs. James Foley Maupin), neice of Norma Crena Braxton Macon. It descended to her heirs before coming to CWF.