Portrait miniatures of children are really quite rare. This late 1800 to perhaps 1910 miniature painting of a ruddy-cheeked happy baby or toddler is one of my favorites. The closer you get, or more enlarged she is, the more you see the influence of the French Impressionist movement. She came to me from an American collection, but I tend to think of her as English - perhaps it's the pink cheeks, or maybe it's that tartan sash. The frame holding her portrait is a hinged locket-type, a bit large for a pendant but made like one. Hinge up top, it clasps together at bottom, and I've shown it slightly and fully open for your sense of her frame. The convex cover glass is also neatly beveled, and is pristine. The mate to it which would have been in the back half of the locket frame is no longer in place, however. Might have once had a lock of blond hair, or perhaps another child's portrait. Inside is an interesting round which looks to be an old calling card, with a fabric shroud gathered around it. This is backed in an old slightly shiny or slick card so that the only fabric showing is that gathered in stitches. I wonder what the significance might have been to the person who once had this child and this painting.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, the portrait is just exceptional, no warp, no damage and a delightfully free hand of an artist influenced by the French Impressionists. The locket frame is a heavy brass, not gold, and it has a round firm affixed bale up top where the hinge is. The frame is slightly tricky to get to clasp tightly. Handle with care as it likes to pop open slightly. The front cover glass is firmly affixed to the frame, and as noted, the back cover glass has been lost to time and has not been replaced. Full measurements noted on the photos, but that face is just 1/2", chin to hair.
