A distinguished gentleman, subject of such a fine artist's portrait in miniature, I can enlarge his face to fill your screen, and yet it is less than 1" from chin to top of his head. Such skill! Were we able to see him in full, I think he's wearing a tailed waistcoat, double-breasted with gold buttons, and that his black beaver top hat likely rests beside him, or is held in his hands. Every Georgian era movie you've ever seen has been costumed after these early portraits. We do not know who he is, but we know much about the life of a titled gentleman in Georgian England, don't we. Beautifully done, in the typical Georgian wood frame but with recess into which the sealed framed image rests, rather than back-aperture. I found this one in France.
Very good condition for age and type. I would say perfect, but there seems to be a film on the inside of the cover glass, looks like perhaps shellac or something clear but fluid, and at a certain angle you can see it. I've tried to show it to you. Directly on, and in display, you won't notice it, and the portrait shows very clearly as you can see. The insert brass or gold frame is tightly closed from back and seems to me it was shellac-coated as a means of sealing it. I didn't open this one at all due to that seal, and suspect that when it was done, it seeped at edging to the glass. Again, left as it is, it still displays beautifully and is crisp and clear to view. Painting is in gouache on very thin wafer, typical of the genre. One of my favorites! Measurements noted on photos.
