La Giovane Dottoressa by Richard Greathouse

A portrait of a young woman bearing great promise for the future, both for herself and for the world around her. The inspiration that influenced this painting during its creation came from the fact that the subject (whose name is Francesca) was receiving her doctorate in psychology at the time this painting was being made. What began as a solemn, simple portrait, evolved into something more hopeful and forthright. Both the inclusion of the laurel wreath (worn by those who graduate from university in Italy) and her deliberate but soft gaze are meant to convey, in visual terms, this precipitous moment in her life. In some ways the painting is a documentation of this occasion, and in others it is a token of good wishes, celebrating her achievement, along with the achievements of all others who seek the betterment of society through diligence and careful study.