Superb portrait miniature, "Incroyables et Merveilleuses" - the slightly smug face of a spoiled rich fashionable Parisian making political statement. An exquisite but unsigned French portrait miniature, handsome gray (powdered), dog-ears and bangs fashion which along with the massive cravat and jaunty giant lapels and embroidered vest, sets him squarely into the "Incroyables", c.1795-1799. this brown-eyed young man who wears an elaborate white cravat with elaborate ruffle.. He might well have been one of the wealthy students at the 1832 student uprising, Paris, barricade of a real-life Les Miserables, but in fact he dates earlier. The portrait is, I am certain, c.1795-1800, the era of the unique fashion/political style. Also certain he is an aristocrat in support of Royalty overthrown and beheaded in The Terror. A fashion celebrating excess, riches, these young people scandalized Paris in the days after the execution of Robespierre. The history is wonderful and must be read. Somewhere between 1796 to 1799 the fashion exuberance faded. With this one there is the little fun bonus of a drawing of an arm on one of the card backing rounds.
Very good to excellent throughout, the painting is beautifully crafted, definitely a noted artist but unsigned. Housed perfectly beneath the original convex cover glass in a typical period blackened wood frame with convex cover glass and brass mount. The miniature is well-set in frame. That face is just 5/8" from chin to hairline, yet look at the confidence, perhaps even defiance, in his visage. A unique year in French fashion, rare. A superb museum quality miniature. Convex glass is original, and no damage to it nor the painting. I see nothing to report as flaw apart from typical age of frame.
