There are 2 types of portrait miniatures. 1. The unique and one of a kind paintings of sitting living persons, a memento - personal and real works of art. And 2. miniature paintings after those of other greater artists whose work would be on display in the museums visited by the Grand Tour travelers, made to be purchased by those travelers as souvenirs of their visit. This beautiful pair are of the Grand Tour genre, I would say mid-Victorian era, and after (aprés) the work of Romney. While they are signed Romney, it is not a pair painted by Ronmey, but by another very capable artist working to make a living copying paintings. Often the Grand Tour souvenir paintings aren't quite as elegantly done, but this set are fine works of art in their own right. Each still in the original frames, well-protected under the original convex cover glass, the fine detail of each sets them apart from most. Full measurements noted on the photos, but those faces are amazing at just 5/8", chin to hairline. Quite superb!
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, the paintings are excellent, housed well beneath original convex cover glass and still in their original wood frames. There is a little loss to the gesso trim at edges of the frame, as you can see in our photos. One has been opened from backside, the other retains its original seal (see images of backs). I'd date these early to mid-1800s, though it is possible they are earlier. You are buying them as a pair, just as I found them in France.
