French DirectoiryA fabulous painting, 18" x 14" in frame, a couple from the c.1795 era of the Incroyables et Marveilleuses. A fashion trend of short duration, worn as a political rebellion statement of young rich people after the death of Robespierre, summer of 1794, and links to the fashion protest against The Terror, often who had lost relatives or friends to the guillotine. Scandalizing Paris, the fashions were very distinct in their time. You'll want to look up this fascinating era and fashion movement both for its own richness but also for the politics. In my collection of protrait miniatures, I have had a few of actual participants of this era's fashion, often framed in karat gold mounts, frames, or jewelry mounts. Very rare. So when I found this oil painting I knew exactly who these people where and where they fit into history. The frame is original and the painting has a signature lower right. Intimate in size, the actual painting is an intimate 13" x 8 1/4" and is nicely stretched and preserved in the original frame.
Very good to excellent for age and type, you see one small loss to the gesso appliqué to right side, center - a relatively simple spot to do a restoration. Otherwise, it is complete and spectacular both for subject, palette. Photos show some glare from the photograph lighting. The painting is fabulous, to include it's period setting out in Nature, which was also a popular narrative in that time for portrait miniatures.
