I'm so attracted to the unusually 'Impressionist' manner in which this earlier portrait miniature is painted. Look at her face. This was an artist who wanted color, but was making a likely meager living painting the visage of c.1820-30 Parisiennes, perhaps even very early Grand Tour visitors. It's not much of a leap to wonder if the artist turned out to be Manet, Monet, or one of the others whose later works we rush to visit at the D'Orsay in Paris. You see it, don't you? She's lovely, lace bonnet, Empire Gown, and red coral 3 strand necklace. Keep in mind, though we've greatly enlarged her, that painting is only 2" in diameter and her face is just a mere .5" from chin to forehead, and yet the artist has captured her soulful eyes, each feature in excruciating detail. Even the lace of her bonneted gown. Notable: red coral was thought then to have protective properties, and was very popular, particularly for young and virginal girls. This might well be a young bride, though she looks a little older to me.
Very good to excellent, I don't find any signature of the artist, though I so wish there were one. Quite unique! She is undamaged, though I note that a couple of my photos show a light smattering of dust caught by the photography lighting (sorry). It was only on the outer glass. She's very clean inside and no cracks or hairlines in her wafer canvas. Under glass, the wooden frame still has a very old paper sealed backing. Perhaps there's a signature somewhere on outer edge or back. I did not open the seal to check. Frame is 4.25" square. A bronzed brass inner frame, mat, could become its own frame, honestly. It's beautiful. And she's spectacular as a little work of art.
