RARE Antique French Empire Portrait Miniatures, Family of 3, Mother and 2 Sisters, Red Coral Necklace
RARE Antique French Empire Portrait Miniatures, Family of 3, Mother and 2 Sisters, Red Coral Necklace
RARE Antique French Empire Portrait Miniatures, Family of 3, Mother and 2 Sisters, Red Coral Necklace
RARE Antique French Empire Portrait Miniatures, Family of 3, Mother and 2 Sisters, Red Coral Necklace
RARE Antique French Empire Portrait Miniatures, Family of 3, Mother and 2 Sisters, Red Coral Necklace
RARE Antique French Empire Portrait Miniatures, Family of 3, Mother and 2 Sisters, Red Coral Necklace
RARE Antique French Empire Portrait Miniatures, Family of 3, Mother and 2 Sisters, Red Coral Necklace
RARE Antique French Empire Portrait Miniatures, Family of 3, Mother and 2 Sisters, Red Coral Necklace
RARE Antique French Empire Portrait Miniatures, Family of 3, Mother and 2 Sisters, Red Coral Necklace
RARE Antique French Empire Portrait Miniatures, Family of 3, Mother and 2 Sisters, Red Coral Necklace
RARE Antique French Empire Portrait Miniatures, Family of 3, Mother and 2 Sisters, Red Coral Necklace
RARE Antique French Empire Portrait Miniatures, Family of 3, Mother and 2 Sisters, Red Coral Necklace
RARE Antique French Empire Portrait Miniatures, Family of 3, Mother and 2 Sisters, Red Coral Necklace
RARE Antique French Empire Portrait Miniatures, Family of 3, Mother and 2 Sisters, Red Coral Necklace

RARE Antique French Empire Portrait Miniatures, Family of 3, Mother and 2 Sisters, Red Coral Necklace

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It's rare to find multiple paintings of family members still together. This is one of my favorites after decades of collecting these miraculous tiny works of art. You see a French family of women - mother and 2 exceptionally beautiful daughters, still together for well over 200 years. High fashion, c.1810-20, dressed in fine clothing of elegant design and quality for their time. Maman in her elaborate lace bonnet and empire waist costume, daughters with high Empire waist gowns. One young woman has a double-strand red coral necklace, which was a talisman of sorts thought to protect young women, particularly their virtue. The other wears an elaborate and modest lace color and bodice to augment her Empire waist low neckline, and wraps in a blue shawl. The paintings are superbly done, yet unsigned. That is more typical than not, as these artists were rarely lauded, and their work tradesman and tradeswomen level, forgotten. Photography would begin to take over in the 20-30 years after this artist's small masterpieces, putting all the artists out of work. The portrait miniatures are to be kept, savored, appreciated as the historical treasures they are. That you have here the family of 3, quite special, indeed.

Very good to excellent condition for age and type. The paintings are superb, and show no damage for their age. Housed under flat glass in a triple dore bronze frame with easel back, they display as the eye-catcher of any collection. Full measurements are noted on the photos. I find a single flaw, and that being the cover glass over the mother's painting has a chip to the very bottom, very slightly visible to the bottom, at 6 o'clock position. Since the cover glass is flat rather than convex, one could quite easily have a replacement glass cut, if desired. The small imperfection never bothered me, and I will usually opt for the original cover glass where possible. Frame has a top finial into which a hanging loop would have originally mounted. Portraits held in place by metal tabs on back, folding over them.  Superb compositions and palette on each one, I would say they are by different artists, the mother and the daughters.