A very interesting 19th century French portrait miniature, influences from the distant past and also from the Impressionists of his time, the miniature is signed by Alexis Douillard. Alexis M. L. Douillard (1835-1905) was a talented artist and miniaturist who produced portraits in the style of the 18th century, like this miniature. He also sold many pencil sketches. Likely his customer trade was the Grand Tour tourists, Victorian era travelers who wished to take home beautiful French art works. This artist's work has sold through Europe's auction houses: Christie's, FauveParis, and Millon & Associates (and others), and the higher end range of $1200+ was achieved via Christies, though another went unsold with an estimate of $6k to $8k ("The Loving Granddaughter"). He also sold many miniature paintings of Napoleon after the large paintings in the Louvre. Use of color and detail in this small one, as well as composition, make it a very striking image, indeed. Full measurements are noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. This is a tourist market portrait miniature from a listed artist, dating Napoleon III to Belle Epoch. Nicely framed in a typical French wood mount and protected under a flat glass rather than convex, it presents in excellent condition. Very graceful rendition, the face of the woman in the 3" diameter painting is only 1/2" chin to hairline.
