Portrait Miniature of a Gent c1765
Directory: Fine Art: Paintings: Miniatures: Pre 1800: Item # 1475110
Please refer to our stock # a1867 when inquiring.
View Seller Profile
By Appointment
New York, New York 10128
(212)348-9073
Guest Book
A good c1770 British miniature portrait of a older gentleman, with the artist having cleverly displayed the wrinkles of age. He is dressed simply in the style of the time, wearing a wig, a white stock, and a gray coat.
The condition of the painting is excellent, and the papier mache frame is also in good condition but with a nick at the top right edge. The sight size is 2 1/2" by 2", with a framed size of 4 5/8" by 4".
NOTE: For those of you who are new to collecting portrait miniatures: we are frequently asked how one goes about determining when a painting was done. Many factors go into making such a decision, including the type casework, the substrate, artifacts within the painting (such as furniture, lighting, etc), hair styles and clothing, etc. Of course, one has to be careful not to be misled by posthumous paintings or copies of earlier works.
The painting offered here is a good example of how two of the factors mentioned, hair and clothing, can narrow down the date: 1. The toupee is of a pigeon wing type, where the front of the top and sides are smooth but each side has one or two stiff horizontal curves, known as buckles, projecting above each ear. 2. The white stock forms a wide neck band without any bows. 3. The jacket has a flat collar and no lapels. The above lead to the conclusion that the painting was done in the 1760 to 1770 period.
