One of the most charming portrait miniatures, this c.1750s woman who leans back in her chair as if captured in the moment quite by accident. She poses as if interrupted from her music and her coffee, there on table in what looks to be a Sevres cup and saucer. Fashionable, elegant, she spent that second's glimpse of her in the reign of the Louis Kings of France, Louis XV, my best guess. I do not have an identity. Given time to look through hundreds of portraits of Courtiers, Mistresses, etc., of the time, perhaps one could name her. This is a delicate small masterpiece, only 2 1/8" diameter in its frame. A true museum piece, her face is only 3/8", yet look at the incredible detail we have from this artist. Frame mount is brass, would have certainly been set into a larger wooden frame, possibly covered in silk velvet which was more common in its time, and people remove them because the old wooden frame mount might be deteriorated. I wish it was still with it. But just as she is, she'll become a favorite in your collection. We do not have an artist's signature, but whomever it was - such a talent!
Very good to excellent condition, not a thing wrong with this richly painted small wafer. Protected under slightly convex glass, it is without any warp or distortion, no paint loss and no damage. A personal favorite. Measurements are noted on the photos.
