She is the picture of fashion of her era, c.1810, give or take 10 years, Napoleonic fashion defining her time. The hair, the gown, the seed pearl tiara all identify this woman as likely to have watched Napoleon's rise and fall; to have perhaps mourned his divorce of Josephine, and celebrated the later birth of his son with Marie-Therese of the Habsburg dynasty. A turbulent time, but one that stands out in history. That was the life in which her own was lead.
Very good to excellent condition throughout. The original painting in gouache on thin wafer, typical of the genre. No chips nor cracks nor hairlines, and no warp to the panel. The original convex cover glass is fully intact, and all held safely in the original round frame. These paintings fascinate. A full portrait, yet her face is only about 1/2", chin to hairline. Incredible that these miniaturists could capture a likeness with such accuracy in a 'canvas' so small. I've collected them for decades, and disbursing my collections now.
