Signed by artist but unreadable, but we know it is aesthetically 'school of Mosnier', c.1785. Jean Monier (or Mosnier; 1600–1656) was a French painter. He was born and died in Blois. ... Émile Bellier de La Chavignerie et Louis Auvray, (dictionary general of the artists' schools), Paris, Renouard, 1882-1885
This is a beautifully accomplished personal portrait of a woman. Her dress and style of hair put her in c.1770-80s, the time of King Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. She is French, likely a courtier. But we have no ID for her. There are later souvenir paintings done "aprés" (after) famous paintings a Grand Tour traveler might have enjoyed at the Louvre, and then there are these direct personal paintings of a living individual in their time.
Very good to excellent, without any loss to the superb painting. No chips, no cracks, no hairlines. While these were often backed by a silver foil, someone has put in a replacement foil as you can see. That makes the portrait brighter, reflecting light through the very thin wafer upon which she's painted (gouache or watercolor). She is in her original frame, the original cover glass is slightly convex and has one very tiny flashing ship you can see when it's opened up (see images). She displays elegantly, nice wood grain, and she only needs a bale for that loop up top, or an easel. Measurements are noted on our very enlarged photos.
