Most of the portrait miniatures from the mid-1700s seem to be very tiny, and often have a thin facing (not foil) of 18k gold affixed to a brass mount, oval or sometimes square, and were also often housed in a small leather or shagreen or shell etui or case. Sometimes the gentlemen's paintings will have a backing either made from a playing card, or painted with one of the 4 card suits. You can see on the backside, this handsome young gentleman chose a spade. I'm unsure of the meaning of it. A wonderful tiny and early portrait, unsigned, and no ID, but in excellent form, going on 300 years of age.
Very good to excellent condition throughout, the tiny painting shows a handsome gentleman whose face is only 5/8", chin to hairline of his powdered wig, yet is both expressive and personal. Top coat and hair and size all help in dating this one. It is perfectly preserved in a mount with 18k gold facing and under the original convex cover glass, clean and highly polished. It seems to have been sealed on backside with a shellac, and I did not wish to disturb that efficient seal to photograph him outside of the frame, so disregard the light glares, reflections as you evaluate him, please. Wonderful small portrait. One could certainly add a bale, wrap in one of the brass peaks on back, and wear this one as a pendant. He looks very authentically Revolutionary era, and would be fun for American Revolution collections, too. We don't know that he participated in either French or American, but the dates are right.
