Catalog: Fine Art: Paintings: Miniatures (328)

A fine miniature portrait of a pretty young child, done in watercolors on organic material by William Egley. The case has hallmarks for 9K London gold and a maker's mark for G.S. Both the case and the painting are in excellent condition with no problems. The size is 1 5/16" by 1 1/16".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: William Egley (1798–1870), was born in Doncaster, England, and moved shortly after to Nottingham...

A finely painted portrait miniature of a young girl, presented in its original gilded case, the reverse with woven plaits of hair under glass. The sitter, who has a slight smile playing on her lips, has blue eyes and brownish-blonde hair, and is simply dressed in a white top.

The painting and the case are both in excellent condition with no issues at all. The case size is 1 5/8" by 1 3/8".

A miniature painting of a lovely young woman attired in a double strand coral necklace and a blue gown with puffy sleeves and a pink flower at the waist sash. Excellent condition with no issues, and in a period black wood frame. Sight size is 3 1/2" by 2 7/8", and the framed size is 5 5/8" by 4 1/2".

NOTE: I have shown two full length photos as the background color varies somewhat depending on whether the painting is seen in natural, fluorescent, or incandescent lighting.

A watercolor on organic wafer portrait, done by Matthew Jouett, of a young woman wearing a pale blue Empire style dress with a lace trimmed bodice and a blue hair band trailing from her head. Presented in a case with N. Grayson engraved in the interior.

The condition of the painting and the case is excellent, with no issues. Overall size is 2 7/8" by 2 3/8".

NOTES: 1...

An extremely powerful portrait attributed to Jeremiah Paul Jr., though it is possible that Benjamin Trott was the artist. In any case, due to the technique and strong features of the sitter, the painting has an immediate impact on the viewer and was done by a highly skilled artist.

The overall condition of the painting is excellent, as is the case, The size is 2 7/8" by 2 1/4"...

A superbly limned portrait by Daniel Dickinson, done in watercolor on natural material. The sitter is a young man of the Brown family of Philadelphia. This painting was exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, "Exhibition of Miniatures", April 22 - May 6, 1893, and was descended through the Brown family..

The condition of the miniature is superb, with no issues of any kind...

A well painted miniature portrait done by Charles Robertson. The subject is a bewigged blue-eyed gentleman of striking visage, posed in a blue and gold jacket. The miniature is presented in a silver case with silver scrollwork. The reverse of the case has the impressed mark "L.V".

The condition of the painting and the case is excellent...

A strongly limned portrait miniature, on natural material, done by Augustus Fuller. The subject is a young lady with dotted white organza collar and fichu, a tall tortoiseshell comb, and ruby and diamond earrings.

Fuller did sign a number of his miniatures, but apparently always on the back. Since this example is presented in its never opened original frame, it is possible that it is a signed piece...

A nicely executed American miniature painting, on natural organic material, of a good-looking young gentleman. Although unsigned, there is no question that this work was done by Newcombe. Presented in a period stamped brass frame.

Excellent condition with no issues at all. Sight size is 2" by 1 1/2", and the framed size is 3 3/4" by 3 1/4".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: George W. Newcombe (1799-1845) was born in England and was working in NYC by 1829...

A truly spectacular portrait miniature executed in watercolor on natural wafer. This is, by quite a few years, one of the earliest known pieces by Samuel Cotes. The painting is signed "SC" and dated "1756" at the center left. The sitter, clearly a nobleman, is seated in a chair as he plays a mandolin. It appears, from his expression and eyes, that the music is transporting him to some remembered or imagined place.

The condition of the painting is excellent...

A charming portrait miniature, done in watercolors on natural wafer, of a young woman in a low-cut blue dress with sleeves decorated with pearl buttons, and a sheer white fichu fastened with a black pin. Her black hair is covered by an elaborate white lace bonnet and she is wearing large gold earrings and a gold chain tucked into her sash. Presented in an ebonized frame.

The miniature is signed "R.C. Woolnough" and dated July 1816 on the backing paper...

A finely rendered miniature portrait of a boy, done in watercolor on natural wafer. The sitter is wearing a black jacket, vest, and bowtie, with a white shirt with a gold stud.

The condition of the painting is excellent, with no issues...

A finely painted miniature portrait of a handsome dark-haired young gentleman in a blue jacket, and a white waistcoat and stock. Presented in a rolled gold case with a glazed reverse. Though unsigned, there is a taped pencil inscription with artist's name en verso.

The condition is excellent with no issues to speak of. The overall size is 2 3/8" by 2 1/8".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Louis-Marie Autissier (1772–1830), was born in Brittany, France. He joined the French Revolutionary army in 1791, le...

A fine and charming portrait miniature with an unusual and exceptional reverse. The sitter is a sweet woman painted in an ethereal manner. She is wearing pearl earrings and a cream gown with a pair of roses at the low point of the neckline. There is a lace fichu with a double blue line at the border. The background is done in a grayish green color.

The case is of gilt floral form, with the reverse being testudines with a large inset area of sterling silver, the initials "GU" engraved in the ce...

A superb enamel on copper miniature portrait by Jean Andre Rouquet. The sitter, wearing a powdered wig and a blue velvet jacket and waistcoat, displays a fine English gravitas.

The miniature is presented under glass in a high karat (15K or higher) gold case, the reverse of which is engraved with a half flowerhead above what appears to be the initials BEE. Below this is an engraved bee.

The condition of the miniature is excellent, with bright colors, no paint loss or cracks, and no restorat...

A charming miniature portrait, on natural wafer, of an attractive young woman decked out in the latest hairdo and height of fashion (well, for the time when the portrait was done). An excellent example of naïve portraiture.

The painting is in wonderful condition, with no issues. The period gilt wood frame has some expected and fairly unobtrusive wear but in person looks much better than it appears in the photo. Sight size of the painting is 3" by 2 1/2", with a framed size of 4 5/8" by 4 1/8...

A finely painted watercolor portrait of a good looking gentleman wearing a black jacket and a white shirt, stock and collar. The talented artist specifically painted the entire piece in shades of white, black, and gray. Note the way he used white highlighting on the left collar and shoulder of the sitter to give a sense of depth to the piece.

The back of this work deserves special mention as it is composed of a backing of metal guilloche. (Guilloche is a decorative technique in which a very pr...

A wonderfully done naïve portrait of an older woman identified on the reverse as Almira Coolidge of Boston. The 3/4 length depiction shows the sitter holding a handkerchief and wearing a lace trimmed white bonnet, white lace fichu, and a red scarf over a black puff-sleeve dress with gold buttons. The background is nicely done in a striated and shaded blue-gray. Presented in a gilt metal frame.

This painting was part of the important and well-known Gregory collection offered at Sotheby's on 1/...

A superb portrait miniature, painted by Nathaniel Rogers in watercolor on natural material. A note inside the case identifies the sitter as Charles B. Meek. Research has found that he lived in Canandaigua, Ontario, NY. Mr. Meek, a very handsome young gentleman, is posed sitting on a red chair, wearing a black jacket, with white waistcoat, shirt, and stock. The fine skill of Rogers is evident in the detailed luminosity of the face, the shadowing in the clothing, and the overall visual impact of t...

A historically important Christian Friedrich Zincke portrait miniature of Edward Walpole. The painting, done in enamel on copper, depicts Walpole in a powdered wig, and wearing a blue velvet jacket with a white shirt and lace jabot. As to be expected from Zincke, the painting is superbly done. It also displays some of the classic hallmarks of Zincke's works - the lips being painted different colors, the eyes rimmed with black daubs to represent eyelashes, and the sitter in a blue or brown velvet...

A rare miniature portrait by Leopold Unger, painted with watercolors on organic wafer. The sitter, a very attractive blue-eyed young woman with brown hair done in sausage curls, has a wistful or slightly sad expression on her face and in her eyes. She is in a black dress with black lace edging at the bodice, and is sitting in a brownish-red chair, holding a red book, and with a multicolored scarf draped over her arm.

The miniature is signed "P. Unger. px. 1839" along the lower left. The bac...

A fine portrait miniature of a handsome gentleman painted on natural wafer by Henry Inman. The sitter is wearing a black jacket and stock, and a white waistcoat, shirt, and collar. Displayed in a cast foliate case with the reverse having a glazed aperture with a cast foliate surround and containing a lock of hair.

The painting is in excellent condition with no issues to note. The case is also in fine fettle, although the reverse could use a bit of cleaning. At some point mounts for a broo...

A nicely painted portrait miniature, on natural wafer, of a woman with an elaborate hair style and wearing a gold gown with a white fichu.

The painting and the gilt metal case are in excellent condition. Sight size is 1 5/8" by 1 1/4", and the case size is 2 1/4" by 1 1/2".

A beautiful portrait miniature, done in watercolor on natural wafer. The sitter is a lovely young woman wearing a large and striking turban and a lace fichu over a light apricot dress. A brooch below her bodice echoes the circular motif on the turban.

Housed in its original bronze case with a diameter of 3 1/4". Both the case and the painting are in excellent condition. A striking addition to any7 collection.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Guido Reni was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, althou...

A watercolor on organic natural wafer of a somewhat older woman wearing a blue jacket with fur edging, a pearl choker, and a rust colored cap with lace. The unusual characteristics of the piece are the hand decorated paper surround and that the painting is in a frame that slides into a close fitting leather case.

The condition of the painting is excellent, with no issues, while the case has exterior wear but is structurally sound. Sight size is 2: by 1 5/8", and the case is 2 7/8" by 2 1/8"

A beautifully executed miniature done by Benjamin Trott in watercolor on organic wafer. The sitter, ethereally painted against a light bluish and peach background, is an attractive blue eyed young lady wearing gold and ruby earrings and a pale peach gown with a ruffled neck and a blue sash.

Although it is clear, based on the style and artistic techniques, that the painting was done by Trott, a fragment of one of his business cards was also found in the case the miniature is housed in.

The c...

An uncommon miniature portrait, done in oil on copper, of a member of a Scandinavian royal family. The gentleman, wearing a red coat and blue tunic, is shown 3/4 length in a field.

The condition is good, with some scattered small losses, and looks better in person than the photo shows. Presented in its beautiful original bronze frame. Sight size is 3 1/4" by 2 1/2" and the frame size is 5" by 4 1/4".

A fine watercolor on vellum painting of an aristocratic woman. The sitter, a blue-eyed blonde powder haired woman who is coquettishly toying with a long lock of her hair, is gloriously decked out in a very low cut white gown with a red shawl. The gown is partially held up by a long strand of diamond and gold jewelry with a matching bracelet on her left arm. Farther up that arm the sleeve of the gown is cinched by a diamond and pearl brooch. A pearl bracelet circles her right arm.

A label on p...

A nicely painted miniature painting of a blue-eyed gentleman wearing a black tie, coat and black silk vest. The artist has chosen a nice blue background, complementing the sitter's eyes.

The condition of the painting the case are excellent. The spots on the painting are bits of dust, and the lighter color black along the inner edges of the coat are intentionally painted that way. The case size is 2 3/4" by 2 3/8".

Painted by Samuel Shelley, this is a beautifully limned portrait miniature of a British officer. The epaulette being on the left shoulder, instead of on the more usual right, indicates that the sitter was in a cavalry regiment of the British army. That, taken with other characteristics of the uniform show him to be with the heavy dragoons. The white facings and silver buttons allow the identification to be narrowed down to the 3rd Irish Horse Regiment which, in 1788, became the 6th Dragoon Guar...

A miniature portrait by M.E. Mynerts (also referenced as W.E. Mynerts). Glazed and housed in a cast foliate case measuring 2 3/4" by 2 3/8", with an unglazed aperture on the reverse containing a braid of hair. The overall condition of the painting is excellent, with no cracks, chips, bowing, or restoration. The case is also in excellent condition.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Very little is known about Mynerts, and his miniatures are quite rare, with only one signed example found. However, his style...

Using watercolor on organic material, Francois Theodore Rochard painted this beautiful portrait of an attractive blue-eyed young woman with brown hair done ion sausage curls. The sitter, identified on a very old label on the rear of the frame, is Clara Stevens (?) age 18. She is posed against a wall with a climbing rose bush showing through a window to her left. Attired in a puffy-sleeved lace-edged white gown with a brooch below the bodice and a wide blue belt, she is also wearing a pink and bl...

An Alfred T. Agate watercolor on natural substrate of a nicely featured gentleman. The sitter is attired in a black jacket with black stock and a white vest and shirt. Housed in a cast foliate case with a ringlet of hair in the glazed compartment verso.

Condition of the painting and the case is excellent, with no flaws to speak of. Sight size is 2 1/4" by 1 3/4", and the case size is 2 1/2" by 2 1/8".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES:

Alfred Agate (1812-1846, born in Sparta, N.Y. was the younger ...

A fine miniature painting done with watercolors on natural material. The sitter is dressed in a diaphanous white gown edged in pale blue at the bodice, with a similar scarf trailing from her towering hair style.

The reverse of the portrait deserves special mention as it depicts a sheaf of wheat done with meticulous hairwork, cinched with a gold band and set against a mother of pearl background. Wheat was often used to symbolize immortality and resurrection.

The condition of the vermeil (gi...

A finely limned miniature painting done in watercolor on natural material. The sitter is a hazel-eyed young man dressed in a black coat and tie. The condition of the painting is excellent, with no issues. The bluish area on the left side was painted in that fashion.

The bronze frame is also in fine shape, originally made to be worn as a pendant or as a brooch, but is missing the brooch pin on the reverse. Sight size is 2 1/4" by 1 7/8", and the overall size is 2 5/8" by 2 1/4".

A nice naïve portrait of a woman, painted in watercolors on organic wafer. The sitter is simply presented in a black dress with lace edging at the bodice. An interesting twist is the fragment of a business card in the back of the case. It says "Painter ***wich City CT" (Norwich City). The artist attribution has been made based on a signed example provided by Brad Crisler, shown in photos 3 and 4, and is unmistakable based on technique and the location of Norwich City.

The condition of the pai...

A fine miniature portrait, watercolor on organic wafer, of a blue-eyed gentleman.

Excellent condition with no issues. Sight size is 2 1/4" by 1 7/8", with the period frame being 4 1/4" by 3 3/4".

A wonderfully detailed portrait miniature, on organic material, of a woman of substantial means, bearing, and physique. She is posed by a console table, and elegantly attired and bedecked with jewelry and an elaborate dress.

The portrait is signed on the lower right by Reinhold Krauss, a known artist listed in Thieme-Becker's "Artists of the World". Excellent condition with no issues.

Housed in a period wooden frame, the sight size is 4" by 2 7/8" and the framed size is 7 1/2" by 5 ...

A striking portrait miniature, on natural wafer, done by Geibel (signed along left side). Thus far we have not been able to find the artist listed in any of the main directories. The sitter is shown wearing a white stock, waistcoat, and a royal blue jacket.

The condition of the painting is excellent, with no problems at all. Please note that the darker area on the right part of the jacket is due to the difficulty of photographing the painting. In fact, because of the angle of the glass the p...

A nicely rendered painting of a satyr and nymphs, a classical mythological motif, done in watercolor on natural wafer.

In overall very good condition with some minor paint loss at the very edge at the top left of the work. There is a very tight line on the center far right that does not affect any of the figures. The white area at the center bottom is due to light reflection and is not present when viewing in person. The original mahogany frame is in excellent condition, with a diameter of 4 1...

A portrait miniature beautifully painted on organic material. The sitter, M. Roland, is an attractive woman with flowing black hair, a white fichu over a white dress decorated with blue flowers, A wide pink sash completes her attire. This piece was based on the full length portrait of M. Roland done by Jules-Adolphe Goupil, titled "Le dernier Jour de Madame Roland" and shown in the third photo.

The painting is in excellent condition with no flaws or restoration. The diameter is 2 11/16" sight...

A fine watercolor on card portrait done by Paul Gomien. The sitter is a woman wearing a puffy sleeved gray-blue dress with a lace collar. Her accessories include a black belt and a gold necklace.

In addition to being signed "Gomien" and dated "1822" along the center right edge the reverse has a trade card reading "P. Gomien/Peintre, Rue St. Honore No 247 pres le Palais Royal". For the period and location this is quite rare. The framing attests to the expense of the piece at the time it was pai...

A superb miniature portrait, done en grisaille on organic substrate, by Samuel Andrews. The sitter is an attractive woman with an elaborate wig and hair style, and wearing a cap and gold earrings. The painting is wonderfully executed, and with such skill that there is a three dimensional effect. The photos do not at all due it justice.

The painting is beautifully presented, surrounded by a gilt metal bezel, outside of which is a plait of hair, the whole in a red leather travel case. The condi...

A finely limned painting, done in watercolor on natural wafer, and attributed to Francois Ferriere. The sitter is a woman dressed in a white gown with a ruffled collar and shown against a grayish blue background.

The frame is period and the painting is mounted so that the backing paper is under glass and visible on the reverse of the frame, displaying the following identification "Ann Moffat died 20th May 1805 aged 32 years". It also misattributes the painting as being done by a French ...

A miniature portrait painting by Abraham Parsell, done in his recognizable style with a multicolored background and the sitter having somewhat frizzy hair, posed with his arm on a chair. Housed in its original cast foliate frame with a glazed rear aperture. The original leather travel case comes with this piece, although it has separated at the hinge and held in place with a safety pin.

The painting is 2 3/4" by 2 1/4". Condition is excellent with no cracks, bowing, paint loss or restoration...

A striking miniature portrait, done in watercolor on natural material, by George Place. The subject, set against a clouded and blue background, is a handsome gray haired officer of light dragoons, dressed in uniform.

The miniature is in superb condition, with no cracks, chips, warping, paint loss, or restoration. The case is also in excellent condition, with a fully glazed back over fabric. On the back glass, at the edge at 10:30 there is a small chip in the underside. The case size is 3" by...

A miniature painting done in watercolors on natural material, signed "C. Greiner along the left center. The sitter is a gentleman dressed in the clothing and hair style popular in the 1841 to 1844 period. Presented in a cast foliate case, the reverse being engine turned with a glazed aperture containing a braid of hair and engraved with the initials JLD.

The painting and the case are in excellent condition with no issues. Overall size of 2 3/8" by 2".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Christopher (or...

A fine portrait painted by Thomas E. Barratt using watercolor on organic substrate. (In person this work displays much better than the photographs show.)

Aside from the quality and relative rarity of the painting, what makes this offering truly special is the casework. The case is gold and gold on silver and hinges so that the miniature is enclosed on both sides by the metal. The front and back are done with different guilloche (engine turned)designs. Both sides of the case are the same color...

An extremely fine John Wood Dodge miniature portrait, done in watercolor on natural wafer. The sitter is a very handsome hazel-eyed young gentleman dressed in a white shirt and collar, with a black coat and osbaldeston cravat. The backing paper of the miniature is signed by Dodge as follows: "Painted by John W. Dodge Miniature Painter 42 Franklin St. New York Sept. 30th, 1836 Geo. C. Miller".

The miniature, as would be expected of Dodge's work, is superbly executed, and has no cracks, bo...

A fine John Wesley Jarvis portrait miniature of a woman wearing a white mob cap and a modest white dress with lace collar and bow, the sitter presented against a stippled blue background. Housed in a period replacement red leather travel case with a somewhat illegible and later label on the back stating "Miniature of...Caldwell (Rachel Bishop?)...of...Pauses Webb."

The painting, with no bowing, cracks, or fading, is in very good condition. The sight size is 2 3/4" by 2 3/8".

BIOGRAPHI...

A beautiful pair of miniature portraits, both signed Fuger, painted in watercolors on organic material. In addition, the elaborate frames are made out of this same natural material, something rarely, if ever, seen. The sitters, in 18th century attire, are a young gent and lady posed against a blue sky with foliage and hills behind them.

Notes on the backs of the frames provide the following information: "These miniatures were bought by Ellen Franklin in antique shop Bellagio Italy in 1929. ???...

A finely painted miniature portrait, done in watercolor on organic substrate, by Pierre Henri. Done against a blue background, the sitter, a nice looking young gent with blue eyes and hair en queue, is wearing a brown coat with yellow lining.

The painting is in excellent condition, with no bowing, cracks, paint loss, or restoration. Set in a frame with a glazed blue material reverse. The sight size is 1 3/4" by 1 1/4".

Pierre Henri (c 1760 - 1822) was born in Paris and often went by the...

A nicely painted waist length portrait, done on organic material, of an attractive woman with dark brown eyes and hair. The sitter, posed in front of a reddish-brown drape, is wearing a black gown with a lace collar cinched with a brooch matching her earrings. A gold chain with two pendants completes her outfit. Presented in a later gilt frame.

The painting is in excellent condition with no issues. The sight size is 2 1/2" by 2" and the framed size is 5 1/2" by 4 1/2".

A fine watercolor on natural wafer, signed lower left by Hyacinthe Mercier and dated 1813. The sitter is an attractive young woman posed in front of a column with a landscape featuring a church in the background. Presented in the original frame.

No condition issues, with a diameter of 2 3/4" and a framed size of 5 1/2" by 5 1/4".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Mlle Hyacinth Mercier worked as a miniaturist in Paris, living at 27 rue Neuve Saint Rochet. She exhibited at the Salon in 1808 and 1810. H...

A fine miniature portrait on natural wafer, done en grisaille in watercolor and ink against a blue background. The sitter, an older woman wearing a lace cap and fichu, is beautifully limned in profile, an uncommon approach. Housed in a gold plated metal frame with fabric on the reverse.

There are no condition problems with the painting, which measures 2 1/2" in diameter.

PROVENANCE: The well-known Dr. Leo Catzenstein Collection, and thence to his descendants.

Two paintings are offered here for the price of one! The first done in India ink on prepared cardboard, this finely limned profile shows a man facing left with his right hand tucked into his jacket. It is presented in a gilded, stamped sheet metal frame.

The condition is quite good with several unimportant white streaks, mainly in the jacket. The sight size is 3 1/2" by 2", with an overall size of 5 1/4" by 4".

The second piece is a watercolor and ink on cardboard of a young man n...

A fine miniature portrait by Jeremiah Meyer, painted in watercolor on organic wafer. The sitter, an attractive woman with long brown hair, is simply presented in a teal gown, with no jewelry or other distractions from her natural beauty.

The painting has no cracks, chips, bowing, or restoration. The brass case is in fine condition with an unimportant dent in the back. The overall size is 1 7/8" by 1 5/8".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Born in Germany, and brought to England in 1749, Jeremiah Me...

An interesting pair of miniature portraits, painted on organic wafer. Framed in a slightly different manner, there is no question these were done by the same artist at the same time.

Fairchild is an obscure artist, with very few, if any, signed works. This attribution is based on the similarity in technique to an example in a book by Bolton, and information that the pair came from a couple living in CT who are purportedly descendants of the artist.

No condition issues to speak of, with...

A miniature portrait, done in watercolor and gouache on organic wafer, of a young man, well portrayed by the artist to capture his power and possible arrogance. The hazel-eyed sitter is shown in a casual pose, wearing a dark jacket and white ascot.

The condition is excellent, with no cracks, bowing, or paint loss. Presented in a cast bronze frame without glazing the sight size is 2 1/8" by 1 5/8", with an overall size of 4 1/2" by 3".

An incredibly charming portrait miniature brooch of a young child, painted on natural material. The subject is beautiful, wearing a coral necklace and a pale lavender gown, and with brown eyes that were so finely and realistically painted with such depth that it is almost hard to believe when seeing this gem in person.

The condition is excellent, with no issues, and the overall size is 1 3/8" by 1".