With bottle curls of grey showing out from under the white bonnet, and a most engaging warm smile, this woman seems to me to be everyone's dream of an ancestral Victorian Grandmother, do you agree? She looks so kindly and loving, with that slightly upturned smile, the warmth of personality that this very talented artist has captured in her miniature portrait. A masterpiece I have truly fallen in love with, the detail and rich palette this artist has employed would be marvelous in a large work, but are truly stunning when you realize this is painted on an thin natural wafer plaque less than 2 1/2" tall, 2" wide! The artist has signed the work F. Davis, and those of you out there who are experts might have more information to share with us if you know more about the artist's history, as he/she is certainly a marvelous portraitist. Charming simple frame, also complimenting of the personality of this figure. I think I must adopt her!
Excellent condition, not a thing to disclose that would diminish either your pleasure in owning her, or in her value. The thin natural wafer wafer is pristine, undamaged but for tiny nips at the corners that are likely original to it and which do not show at all in the frame. I've scanned the painting and greatly enlarged it to show you how well it holds up. This is a fine one! Frame is charming, too. A convex glass cover has protected and shown her off for these 150 or more years with excellent result. Circa 1840-60. Antique jewelry collectors, note the lovely Victorian brooch at her modest collar, as well.
