Letitia Bonnet Hart was born in, New York in 1867. Her father and uncle, respectively James McDougal Hart and William M. Hart,were American landscape painters. They were born in Scotland. In 1931 they moved with their family to the United Sates. Her mother, Marie Theresa Gorsuch Hart, and her sister, Mary Theresa Hart, were also painters. She studied art with her father and with Edgar Ward at the National Academy of Design.

Summer Portrait is admired by all who have seen it. The colors in the back·ground and the dress of the girl strikingly express the impressionist palette. Her exhibition record at the National Academy of Design was extensive. She participated in twenty eight annual exhibitions from 1885 to 1914.  In several years she exhibited multiple paintings . Her works were shown in five annual exhibitions at the Art Institute of Chicago between 1895 and 1906. She exhibited in the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo. Her work was shown at the 1904  Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St Louis.   She also exhibited at the Art Club of Philadelphia and the 1898 New York State Fair.