Thank you very much for the information. The painting is at my grandmother's who lives in California so next time I get out there (I'm in OH) I will get a better picture to post. There is nothing else on the shield itself, only what you (partially)see, the couped cross and the lion rampant. The top of the shield is arched and the crest just has more of that flourish that you see coming down the sides. The painting is only about eight or nine inches square.

As far as the scallop shell, I guess what I meant to ask was if there was any significance in the absence of a helmet, not so much what the shell itself symbolizes.

From what I have read it seems this would be a marriage, with the two families combined on the one shield. Do you think so?

Thanks again!
Julie K