The frame, alone, is worth our price, but you won't want to separate our Napoleonic fashion icon from her original frame. She's smiling, which is unusual in portraits. She's wearing a fabulous ensemble, French Empire gown, red coral tiara, necklace, and a Palais Royal buckle at bodice. I have several of those buckles and they do have the 18k gold and enameled pansy/flower at center, so we know their origin. Her earrings are pretty drops of red coral. Youthful, it might well be her wedding portrait. Alas, we haven't an artist's signature to research, nor an ID on the sitter. But the painting and Empire frame are wonderful. c.1800-1810. So many paintings are removed from these superb old frames and replaced by mirrors. It's a shame to separate them, I think.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. C. 1800-1810, the old wood frame has lost none of it's gesso appliqués border. The nicely stretched canvas oil painting is also very nicely preserved. I can see from backside there is a very very old and tiny restoration (see small lighter patch), but it's not easy to see it from the painting side at all. Displays beautifully. For any jewelry collector's home, the jewelry is spectacular. Remember, red coral was thought to be an amulet of sorts with safety, particularly for a maiden or young girl. Emblematic, lovely, ready to hang. The frame is 26 3/4" x 22 1/4" and is 2" in depth.
