I keep saying "one of my favorites", and I realize these all are my favorites. I buy only what I can love and live with long. That you seem also to love the ones I do is affirming and gratifying, yet look at her - anyone would fall in love with this truly beautiful young woman in her elegant gown. And we have no idea who she was, what her life was like except in this one moment. Way before photography was invented, the miniaturist has captured her liveliness, her ease in elegance and her fully engaging eyes. I feel certain her dance cards were always full. The frame is made up of a brass backing, but a thin 16k gold panel suffixed to it. Remember, only wealthy were able to have an artist this adept, and this might well have been the portrait done as a gift to her new husband, or perhaps done to leave behind with her parents when she moved away to an adult life. Artists were mostly craftspeople, and few with ego nor panache enough to sign their works. Yet, here she is - all that!
Very good to excellent condition, age and type considered, and I truly see no flaws to note. The 16k gold front has been tested, and if you look closely, you can see that it is a separate piece, attached to the brass backing of the old frame. It's thin, but not really a foil. Beautiful result. I've taken to testing a lot of these very old ones and it's surprising how many have the layer of gold, or more. Precious in all ways. Gouache on wafer so thin you can see through it. Her convex cover glass has protected her for centuries along with that wonderful frame. Measurements are noted on our photos.
