Truly one of the most stunning antique French portrait miniatures of my many years collecting, this unique 3/4 posed young beauty in landscape setting, her tiara and pearls and even her lace handkerchief so elegantly preserved these 220 or so years. Museum quality, she turns with spontaneity to glance over her shoulder at the artist, who has captured her every charm. Such magnificent detail to enlarge so much - that entire painting is only 3 5/8" x 2 3/4" oval, gouache on wafer, and her heart-stopping beautiful face is only 1/2", chin to hairline. French Empire gown, barely contains her. Her curled hair in perfect fashion completes her. Would that we knew who she was, what her life and fate brought to her. I have opened this one up from her long stay within wreath top bronze frame and thick convex polished cover glass, but no signature is within, either. Some small hint of writing on the vellum backing, but not enough to make out. Isn't she just truly incredible!
Very good to excellent condition, I see nothing at all to report but the slight deterioration of the old original vellum backing. Frame and portrait, convex cover glass are all in pristine condition as if tucked away or museum displayed for hundreds of years. Nothing finer in my collection!
