Rare W.E. Mynerts (M.E. Mynerts) American Miniature Portrait c1838
Directory: Fine Art: Paintings: Miniatures: Pre 1900: Item # 1335140
Please refer to our stock # a1509 when inquiring.
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A rare portrait miniature on organic wafer, painted by W.E. Mynerts (also referred to as M.E. Mynerts), depicting a rosy-cheeked young man wearing a black jacket and tie, and a white collar and shirt. The backing paper indicates that the sitter is Solomon Mills. Research into the name unearthed an obituary from the New Orleans Times of January 23, 1876 (4th photo below) which shows that Mills was born in MA in 1815, and had lived in New Orleans from 1836 until his death.
Housed in a cast foliate case measuring is 2 3/4" by 2 3/8", with a glazed aperture on the reverse, and having a very small dent of no consequence. The overall condition of the painting is excellent, with no cracks, chips, bowing, or restoration.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Very little is known about W.E. Mynerts, and his miniatures are quite rare, with only one signed example found. A photo of this signature is shown in the 5th photo, and the similarity of the handwriting to that on the miniature offered here should be noted. His style is distinct enough that, combined with other information such as the date the painting was done, and the location, an identification can be made.
Mynerts was listed in the St. Louis (Mo) directory for 1836, but it is unknown how long he remained there. He could be the same artist identified as M.E. Mynert (by William H. Gerdts, the noted art historian and author), a miniature painter who visited Nashville, TN, in 1836. From 1838 to 1840 Mynerts had an address in New Orleans at the Exchange Hotel on Poydras St. T
