Four Children of Sir Thomas Lucy III and Alice Spencer

British (English) School. Oil painting on canvas, Four Children of Sir Thomas Lucy III and Alice Spencer, English School, inscribed: ANO DONI 1619 and with respective ages of children each, in gold next to their heads: AETAtis Suae 5, 3, 2, 1. Constance Lucy, later Lady Smith (5 years), Margaret Lucy (3 years), Robert Lucy (2 years) and Richard Lucy (1 year). Constance or Constantia, the eldest child and her younger sister Margaret stand at right, holding hands, wearing gold brocade dresses, the younger holding sister a flower, on far right. The baby in the chair is Richard Lucy, wrapped in a red cloak, on Constance's right. At the left stands Robert in a gold dress and white pinafore with a robin perched on his right hand, and treading on the baby's red cloak (?to indicate a superior status). The composition framed by a pelmet and drawn curtain. The fabric of the dresses helped inspire the pattern of the Library wallpaper. Four of the children as recorded by the Herald's visitation in 1619. Spencer the eldest son, the twin of Margaret was presumably painted seperately on his own (Harleian Society, vol. 12 [1877], p. 288). Later they had two more children: Fulke and Alice Lucy. Charlecote Park, Warwickshire (Accredited Museum)