Antique French Portrait Miniature, Napoleon’s French Empire Period w Blue Tiara and Diamonds, Sapphire Brooch and Pearls

A fabulous portrait miniature, icon of her time, French Empire or the era of Napoleon I of France. Those who were of sufficient station in life to afford having their likeness memorialized in miniature were typically those who also could afford the finest fashions of the day, as you see with this young beauty and her stiff gauze collar which rises from her Empire gown to frame her beautiful face. She also wears the side-angled French tiara of the time, and this is the first time I’ve seen one with pale blue beads. Perhaps dyed pearls or paste pearls, they pick up the blue of her shawl and that stunning sapphire and diamond clasp or brooch worn at the raised waistline of her Empire gown. When I found this beautiful little painting, I thought I could see a signature there on her white sleeve, but it turns out not to be. Auch a fine painting and no credit to its creator – this is more typical than not of the portrait miniatures. An artist, unless he/she had broad fame in their time, did not typically sign, or might have signed just on the rim so it would not be visible when in frame. Seems a slight, since the talent they possessed is often quite immense. Additionally, it is also true that artists whose work achieved fame regularly did miniatures as a side source of income, or to set down the likeness of their own loved ones. Full measurements will be found on our photos. 

Very good to excellent condition for age and type, over 200 years old now. The brass oval frame would, traditionally, have been a mat set into a black or natural wood rectangle, and we often find they’ve been removed from those frame mounts of the era. She is almost perfectly preserved in the brass mount and under her original slightly convex cover glass, but for a very small rub to the outer rim of her portrait at about the 4 o’clock position, showing as a white spot. It does not take much to do this – never ever try to clean a portrait miniature. They are watercolor/gouache on thin wafer and the paint will lift if any water is applied. With her tiara and fashion, isn’t she just stunning!