This is fantastic Sarah!! I didn't realise where you would be putting it on the site exactly and I just came across it by accident.
Guess what we found? On Ancestry.com this Mike chap had put on some of the photos out of the case!! So at last we can see what she looked like even though the only photo of the artist herself is when she is about 60. It has her mum and dad, granny, and a couple of lads that may be her sons.
A few other photos but still no contact. I just don't know how he hasn't found us. We are on there too so did he not do a proper search? He also includes a nickname for her ("Surée") which means either it is written on the photo or there are more documents in the suitcase. We have sent a message ancestry but they are not as good as you in that, at least as far as I can tell, messages are not forwarded to your email address so you have to actually be on Ancestry to see them and even then they are not easy to spot. But wow it is lovely to see her!! She is smiling. I looked up at our picture and then at her and thought, "Wow all that time ago you were the one responsible for such a fantastic picture! We have it because you were there, in the same room as Vincent van Gogh and because you, sadly were forgotten and no one took any notice of the reverse of the picture when it was sold." I think she must have stopped painting to become a mum. Awww. I wish I could find out who she married (and divorced) but it is only down as being Houdard. Nothing more.
Anyway, I thought you would like to know about that. I will let you know anything more we find out. It is such an incredibly exciting journey.
Warmest regards
Mandy
x
