As I've explained before, there are basically 2 types of portrait miniatures: 1. a living person who sat for their portrait in real life, and 2. those done "après" famous works of art in the museums, fueled by the souvenir hungry Grand Tour travelers. This one is a little more difficult to determine, as she is so perfectly beautiful, soulful, it seems she must have been a singular work of a very great miniaturist, and yet I feel like I've seen this painting before in full-size. I've spent so much of my life in the world's great museums, I have thought at times I would never forget a single painting along with its artist, and yet, while I feel like I ought to name the artist of this painting, I can't reach it. I do believe she is "après", or after a painting, rather than of a living person. That said, what a stunning miniature she is! When I can enlarge a 1" head to fill your screen on the computer and the painting stands true to itself and to her, it is truly the work of a Master. The frame is typical of late 1700s to early 1800s, and she wears Napoleon era clothing, might very well be a living person of that time. You'll have to judge her on her beauty, unless your memory brings up the original painting and can name her. Unsigned, she is painted in gouache on thin wafer, typical of the genre.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. The cover glass on this one is possibly a specially made replacement, as it is quite a bit more convex, almost bombe, in form, more than the typical miniature cover glass of its time. It has protected her well, as you can see. Measurements are noted on photos, but she is a larger painting, which is 3 3/8" x 2 7/8" aperture, with a frame that is 5 3/4" x 5" and is 5/8" thick.
