There are 2 types of portrait miniatures. 1. The unique and one of a kind paintings of sitting living persons, a memento - personal and real works of art. And 2. miniature paintings after those of other greater artists whose work would be on display in the museums visited by the Grand Tour travelers, made to be purchased by those travelers as souvenirs of their visit. This beautiful pair are of the Grand Tour genre, I would say mid-Victorian era, and after (aprés) the work of Romney. While they are signed Romney, it is not a pair painted by Ronmey, but by another very capable artist working to make a living copying paintings. Often the Grand Tour souvenir paintings aren't quite as elegantly done, and yet they're fun and very collectable in their own right. This one has a beautiful face of just 3/4" from hairline to chin, and the outer frame is just 2 1/2" in diameter.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, there are really no flaws to note. The painting is in gouache on wafer and well-preserved beneath the original convex cover glass and brass frame. I did not take her out of her frame for photos, so a slight distortion due to curved glass, glare here or there from photo lights. A charming young woman in the manner of Louis XVI (Marie-Antoinette) era, low bodice and big powdered hair. I am not familiar with the original portrait, and have not identified this woman - usually the Grand Tour souvenir miniatures are from a painting, or depict a popular person in history.
