Signed by the artist, N. Farcia y. Barna fr. - which might possibly be their identifications "Ms Garcia and Baena Frere (brother)" only on the woman's portrait but they are definitely a pair done at the same time and by same artist. A beautiful young couple from the Louis-Philippe era (c.1830s), fine dress, fashion of their era. She tops her distinctive 1830s hairdo with a large tortoise shell mantilla or hair comb. A beautiful young pair, I'm unsure if they are a young couple (marriage portraits) or brother and sister. I found them together in France, and we will not separate them at this late date - almost 200 years after they were so beautifully painted. A superb artist of miniature portraits. Just look at the smooth detail even when I enlarge their 7/8" faces to fill your screen. Exceptionl! Full measurements noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent condition throughout, age and type considered. Paintings in gouache on thin natural wafer, no chips (see photos out of frames) and paint is very well preserved. The frames are equally fine and well-preserved. Obviously a couple of paintings that have been well-treasured for hundreds of years, many many generations. Museum quality - so beautiful. There is, left of her face, a super-fine hairline which can be seen at some angles. It seems to me a fine tight hairline of about 1" long, barely visible and not extending to either border, only in the gray background. I tried to catch it but I think I could see it in only 1 image. Each has the original slightly convex cover glass. These display with such elegance, and I've enjoyed them on my own walls. From my collections.
