As I've explained, there are basically 2 types of portrait miniatures: 1. a living person who sat for their portrait in real life, and 2. those done "après" famous works of art in the museums, fueled by the souvenir hungry Grand Tour travelers. This one is of the 2nd variety and is a souvenir of someone's affection for Marie-Antoinette, and for the experience of all of the art on display at one or another of the venues such as Louvre or Versailles. I've included on of M-A's portraits after which this miniature is most likely painted, and note that sometimes an artist will compose in reverse, combining aspects of several paintings in their work. These souvenir miniatures were a side-business many artists we now know as famous, did while they were making their way to leaving a mark on the art world. Unsigned, they come in a variety of quality, expertise.
Very good to excellent after nearly 200 years, she remains under the original convex cover glass and in her original wood frame, typical of the era in France. Loyalists to the crown also would have kept remembrances of the ill-fated Marie-Antoinette, whose head was lost to the guillotine during The Terror. There are no chips nor hairlines nor cracks on the very thin wafer, as you can see. The old wooden frame has some surface abrasions of time, but no chips, no cracks. Measurements noted on our photos. Note that her face is a tiny 1/2" from chin to hairline, yet look at the detail captured in this 1/2 body seated pose. The chair is even charming.
