An exquisite English portrait miniature, dating to circa 1820, from the late Georgian period, depicting a gentleman dressed in attire characteristic of men's fashion in England during the early 19th century. The gentleman is depicted in a half-length portrait, wearing an elegant brown coat, a yellow waistcoat, and a white shirt with delicate frilled decorations at the front. Around his neck is tied a white fabric stock, which was a customary item of clothing among men of the affluent classes during this period. The combination of colours of the brown coat, yellow waistcoat, and white fabric reflects men's fashion of the early 19th century, a period in which particular importance was attached to a carefully maintained appearance, the quality of fabrics, and restrained elegance. The portrait is executed in watercolours on a natural substrate, in an oval format, and is mounted within a rectangular leather travelling case, intended to protect the work and allow it to be carried. Miniatures of this kind frequently served as personal and family keepsakes and were common among members of the aristocracy, professionals, and affluent families in Britain. **The Historical Inscription on the Reverse of the Work** On the reverse of the miniature is an inscription bearing the following details: 31 Conduit St / London The address refers to Conduit Street, a historic street in the Mayfair district of London, which was associated with commercial activity, workshops, and tradespeople catering to an affluent clientele. **The Historical Address and Its Connection to a London Framing Establishment** On the reverse of the miniature appears the historical inscription "31 Conduit St / London". Research in the British Picture Framemakers database of the National Portrait Gallery in London revealed that, at approximately 1820, the firm Harris & Pearse operated at this address, specialising in frame making, carving, gilding, and the restoration of paintings. The business, founded by John Harris, operated on Conduit Street for several decades and was subsequently taken over by partners and successors who operated under various trading names. The correspondence between the address of the business and the period to which the miniature is dated gives the inscription on the reverse of the work particular historical and documentary interest. It is possible that the miniature was brought to this establishment for framing. **Provenance and Sale History:** Bonhams, London, Portrait Miniatures and Silhouettes, 27 February 2007, Lot 201. **Artistic Background – The English School in the Early 19th Century** The miniature belongs to the tradition of small-scale portrait painting that developed in England during the 18th and 19th centuries and reached a particularly high level of artistic and technical sophistication during the Georgian period. During this period, important miniature painters were active, including Richard Cosway (1742–1821), George Engleheart (1750–1829), and Andrew Plimer (1763–1837), whose works contributed to shaping the British style of miniature portrait painting. Miniature paintings were characterised by the use of transparent watercolours, extremely fine brushstrokes, and attention to details such as facial features, hairstyles, clothing, and individual expressions. These portraits sometimes served as family keepsakes, gifts between spouses, and personal objects preserved in cases or specially designed frames. The present work reflects this tradition, both in terms of the period and clothing depicted and in its oval format and the leather case in which it is housed. **Provenance and Sale History** The miniature has a documented sale at the international auction house Bonhams, London, on 27 February 2007, as Lot 201. This documentation constitutes an important part of the ownership and sale history of the work (Provenance) and makes it possible to identify its appearance on the art market as early as 200 7. **Artist:** English School **Date:** Circa 1820 **Period:** Late Georgian **Country of Origin:** England **Genre:** Half-length Portrait Miniature **Technique:** Watercolours on a natural substrate **Shape:** Oval **Height:** 8.6 cm **Case:** Rectangular leather travelling case **Inscription on Reverse:** 31 Conduit St / London **Provenance and Documentation:** Bonhams, London, 27 February 2007, Lot 201
Auction 02: Rare 18th–19th Century Portrait Miniatures & Mourning Jewellery — Melis Antiques & Art