_Charles Poussin_ (French: born 1819).
M. Pierre Charles Poussin, a pupil of L. Cogniet, was an
exhibitor at the French _Salon_ from 1842 to 1882. Many of his
pictures were, like this one, of scenes in Brittany.
The scene is that of a fête held in honour of _Notre Dame de Bon
Secours_ of Guingamp in Brittany, on the 2nd of July in every year.
Pope Paul V. in 1619 granted a plenary indulgence to all persons "who
truly confessed and communicated, who shall visit the said church of
Notre Dame de Guingamp on the day and fête of the Visitation of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, which it is the custom every year to celebrate on
the 2nd day of July; who shall devotionally pray for the preservation
of concord and peace among all Christian princes; who shall render
hospitality to the poor pilgrims; who shall make peace with their
enemies, and shall promote it amongst others--shall, in short, sweetly
bring into the way of salvation some unfortunate and erring soul." An
English visitor published a long account of the fête in the _Standard_
of July 5 and following days in 1870, describing "the frank but sedate
festivity and merry-making under the trees." That was twenty years
after this picture was painted.