French Portrait Miniature of an Aristocratic Lady, Dated 1785 on Reverse, in Gold Oval Frame
French Portrait Miniature of an Aristocratic Lady, Dated 1785 on Reverse, in Gold Oval Frame
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Item: F
Additional Description
A finely painted French portrait miniature of an elegant aristocratic lady, shown bust-length in fashionable late-18th-century dress and presented within a beautifully detailed oval gilt-metal frame.
The sitter wears a pale blue gown edged with delicate white ruffles and lace, her powdered hair arranged high in the fashionable style of the 1780s with softly curled lengths falling over one shoulder. The portrait is rendered with particularly delicate facial modeling, finely articulated hair, and subtle blue, gray, and ivory tones against a softly shaded background.
The miniature appears to be painted in watercolor or gouache on a thin ivory-type support, as was customary for portrait miniatures of this period, though the support has not been removed from the frame for definitive examination.
The reverse retains an old handwritten collector or dealer label beginning “France 1785”, followed by additional notations that are only partially legible. This old label is an important part of the piece’s provenance and supports a late-18th-century French attribution, though the specific sitter identification recorded beneath it cannot be confidently established from the surviving handwriting alone.
The portrait is housed beneath glass in an elegant gilt-metal oval frame with finely tooled beaded and foliate borders and a suspension loop at the top, allowing it to be displayed either as a miniature wall portrait or cabinet object.
Era
Circa 1785, as inscribed on reverse
Late Louis XVI period
Origin
France
Artist
French School
Artist unknown
Medium
Watercolor / gouache miniature, apparently on ivory or ivory-type support
Style
Louis XVI / late 18th-century portrait miniature
History
Portrait miniatures reached a remarkable level of refinement in 18th-century France, where they served as highly personal objects exchanged between family members, friends, and lovers. Unlike full-scale painted portraits, miniatures could be held in the hand, worn, carried while traveling, or displayed in intimate domestic settings.
French miniaturists frequently worked in watercolor on very thin sheets of ivory, whose warm translucent surface allowed exceptionally delicate modeling of flesh tones and fabric. By the 1780s, powdered hair, pale silks, lace-trimmed necklines, and softly modeled gray backgrounds were characteristic features of fashionable portraiture.
The date 1785 recorded on the reverse is entirely consistent with the sitter’s coiffure and clothing.
Marks / Inscriptions
Old handwritten label to reverse beginning:
“France 1785”
Additional handwritten wording appears beneath, but is partially difficult to decipher from the photographs and has therefore not been used as a firm sitter attribution.
A later price notation also appears to be present on the label.
Materials
- Watercolor / gouache
- Ivory or ivory-type miniature support, untested
- Gilt metal frame
- Glass
- Paper backing and old handwritten label
Dimensions
Please add:
Overall: ___” H × ___” W
Portrait sight: ___” H × ___” W
Condition
Good antique condition considering the age and delicate nature of the work. The portrait remains highly legible with attractive color and fine facial detail. There is expected age-related surface wear, minor discoloration, and possible small abrasions or losses visible upon close inspection.
The gilt-metal frame shows expected rubbing, oxidation, darkening, and minor finish loss. The reverse retains an old backing and handwritten label with age-related wear.
The miniature has not been removed from the frame for examination.
Please review all photographs closely as they form part of the condition description.
Provenance
France.
Old reverse label dated 1785.
Disclaimers
The specific identity of the sitter has not been independently established and is therefore not stated as fact.
The support appears visually consistent with ivory, but it has not been scientifically tested or removed from the frame. If confirmed as elephant ivory, sale and shipment may be subject to applicable federal, state, international, and CITES restrictions.
The circa-1785 dating is supported by the reverse inscription and stylistic characteristics but should be regarded as an attribution rather than a documented date of execution.
Item: F
Additional Description
A finely painted French portrait miniature of an elegant aristocratic lady, shown bust-length in fashionable late-18th-century dress and presented within a beautifully detailed oval gilt-metal frame.
The sitter wears a pale blue gown edged with delicate white ruffles and lace, her powdered hair arranged high in the fashionable style of the 1780s with softly curled lengths falling over one shoulder. The portrait is rendered with particularly delicate facial modeling, finely articulated hair, and subtle blue, gray, and ivory tones against a softly shaded background.
The miniature appears to be painted in watercolor or gouache on a thin ivory-type support, as was customary for portrait miniatures of this period, though the support has not been removed from the frame for definitive examination.
The reverse retains an old handwritten collector or dealer label beginning “France 1785”, followed by additional notations that are only partially legible. This old label is an important part of the piece’s provenance and supports a late-18th-century French attribution, though the specific sitter identification recorded beneath it cannot be confidently established from the surviving handwriting alone.
The portrait is housed beneath glass in an elegant gilt-metal oval frame with finely tooled beaded and foliate borders and a suspension loop at the top, allowing it to be displayed either as a miniature wall portrait or cabinet object.
Era
Circa 1785, as inscribed on reverse
Late Louis XVI period
Origin
France
Artist
French School
Artist unknown
Medium
Watercolor / gouache miniature, apparently on ivory or ivory-type support
Style
Louis XVI / late 18th-century portrait miniature
History
Portrait miniatures reached a remarkable level of refinement in 18th-century France, where they served as highly personal objects exchanged between family members, friends, and lovers. Unlike full-scale painted portraits, miniatures could be held in the hand, worn, carried while traveling, or displayed in intimate domestic settings.
French miniaturists frequently worked in watercolor on very thin sheets of ivory, whose warm translucent surface allowed exceptionally delicate modeling of flesh tones and fabric. By the 1780s, powdered hair, pale silks, lace-trimmed necklines, and softly modeled gray backgrounds were characteristic features of fashionable portraiture.
The date 1785 recorded on the reverse is entirely consistent with the sitter’s coiffure and clothing.
Marks / Inscriptions
Old handwritten label to reverse beginning:
“France 1785”
Additional handwritten wording appears beneath, but is partially difficult to decipher from the photographs and has therefore not been used as a firm sitter attribution.
A later price notation also appears to be present on the label.
Materials
- Watercolor / gouache
- Ivory or ivory-type miniature support, untested
- Gilt metal frame
- Glass
- Paper backing and old handwritten label
Dimensions
Please add:
Overall: ___” H × ___” W
Portrait sight: ___” H × ___” W
Condition
Good antique condition considering the age and delicate nature of the work. The portrait remains highly legible with attractive color and fine facial detail. There is expected age-related surface wear, minor discoloration, and possible small abrasions or losses visible upon close inspection.
The gilt-metal frame shows expected rubbing, oxidation, darkening, and minor finish loss. The reverse retains an old backing and handwritten label with age-related wear.
The miniature has not been removed from the frame for examination.
Please review all photographs closely as they form part of the condition description.
Provenance
France.
Old reverse label dated 1785.
Disclaimers
The specific identity of the sitter has not been independently established and is therefore not stated as fact.
The support appears visually consistent with ivory, but it has not been scientifically tested or removed from the frame. If confirmed as elephant ivory, sale and shipment may be subject to applicable federal, state, international, and CITES restrictions.
The circa-1785 dating is supported by the reverse inscription and stylistic characteristics but should be regarded as an attribution rather than a documented date of execution.