160 - French School, circa 1780, in the style of Jean-Baptiste Joseph WICAR

French School, circa 1780, in the style of Jean-Baptiste Joseph WICAR (1762–1834) The Letter Carrier Oil on canvas H_77.5 x W_113 cm (Restored) Inscription on the note: “Mademoiselle De Pas / at her château / in Pas” The Château de Pas-en-Artois was built in 1780 for Jean-Antoine de Fourmestraux, knight, captain of infantry, and lord of Hollebecque and Pas-en-Artois. Married to Barbe-Ernestine-Françoise de Lafonteyne, the couple had ten children, including four daughters: Marie Virginie de FOURMESTRAUX (1753–1767), Jeanne Marie de FOURMESTRAUX (1754–1832), Alexandrine Joseph de FOURMESTRAUX (1765–1845), and Séraphine Françoise de FOURMESTRAUX (1768–1847). Our protagonist is likely one of the latter.