First of all, I had bought a group from an anonymous estate out of Eastern Europe, all of which c.1700s to as late as 1820, and there is no identification but speculation that they might well have been from Vienna to Poland, to Russian or Prussian Royalty or Courtier. The frames are unlike the ones we find in France, England, or even USA during the period, and while I can't place them more fully, it certainly bears mention. This exceptional tiny miniature if one from that collection. I always think I'll do more research and ultimately identify the families, but without artist signature, or estate named (it was anonymous at auction), there seems little hope. Perhaps you can. This is the smallest portrait miniature I have ever owned. And one of the finest, as you can see. How an artist can accomplish that much detail in a painting just 1 1/8" x 7/8" oval is just astounding, isn't it. But there you see him. A personal favorite, the frame is unusual, too, for Europe, and suggests Vienna to St. Petersburg to me. It is a delicate pressed thick-gauge brass which has a karat gold coating to its entire face. There is also an oval mat, same treatment, which separates from the frame (see back) and which holds the tiny painting. But who is he?
Very good to excellent condition throughout. I have no flaws at all to note. The painting is even still sealed to the oval vellum, keeping any dust or other from entering between convex cover glass and painting. Gouache on thin natural wafer, a show-stopper museum piece you would marvel at, were you to see it in the Louvre's collections. No?
