This is such a splendid portrait miniature, even though the wafer has a hairline traversing directly through the gentleman's face to about middle of the wafer. The old wafers are prone to shrinkage which sometimes causes a hairline such as has happened to this very old painting. Even so, a very early painting showing clothing style and hair in fashion in the 1600s, throughout Europe, which is saved to an elegant wooden frame a couple of centuries younger, 19th century. Found in France, he's a personal favorite in many decades of collecting these little works of art. I do not see a signature, though I also have never taken him out of his frame (for fear of widening the hairline), and it is true that sometimes we find a signature along the edge, hidden by frame. Found in France, with a 7/8" face and full measurements noted directly on our photos.
Good to very good condition painting in gouache on thin natural wafer, and approximately 300+ years old, noting only the fine hairline in wafer that runs from upper center to about mid-wafer, directly down his face. Protected under glass, I see no other flaws to the wafer. Frame is much newer, mid-1800s, and is in fine condition with a framer's stamp on back for Paris.
