Fine, richly coloured and sensitively rendered late 17th century English portrait of a beauty. The elegant dark haired sitter is pictured three quarter length within a landscape wearing a gold dress and white chemise.Gesturing towards an urn containing any orange tree she plucks a prominent piece of blossom and a dainty spring is also placed upon her lap.With her neck slightly inclined to the left she fixes us with the most pleasing of expressions. Behind her is an extensive landscape with architectural details and topiary.In seventeenth century England, citrus trees such as the example seen here were often grown in large pots which were kept outside in the summer and wheeled back indoors into a heated orangery to over winter.The fact that she is plucking the blossom may itself be an allusion to marriage. In art orange blossom signifies eternal love. It also speaks of youth and freshness, whilst the fruit itself speaks of fertility So the inclusion of such fruit i...