A fine European portrait miniature from the early 19th century, dating to circa 1800 and attributed to the Austrian miniature painter Bernhard Edler von Schrötter (1772–1842). The work was executed in watercolours on a natural substrate and depicts a young child, probably a boy, with large blue eyes and strawberry-blond hair, standing in a rose garden and holding a basket of fruit containing pears. The portrait combines a personal depiction of the child with a delicate pastoral scene and is characterised by meticulous brushwork, soft colour transitions, and light, harmonious colouring. Description of the Portrait The child is depicted standing, with the body turned slightly to one side and the face directed directly towards the viewer. The face has a rounded oval shape, with large, light greyish-blue eyes, a small nose, and delicately rendered lips. The cheeks have a slight rosy tint, and the expression is serene and natural, with a hint of a smile that gives the portrait a sense of innocence and charm. The child's short strawberry-blond hair is softly arranged around the forehead and sides, with small locks falling naturally across the forehead. The child wears a relatively simple white garment with a broad neckline and short sleeves, in keeping with children's fashion during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The pale fabric is rendered in soft folds and delicate tonal transitions, emphasising the light character of the material. In one arm, the child holds a woven basket in a golden-brown shade containing several pieces of fruit, apparently small pears. With the other hand, the child holds a small pear above the basket, as though about to place it inside or present it to the viewer. Beside the child are rose bushes with pink flowers and green foliage, adding a natural and decorative dimension to the composition. The background, in soft shades of bluish-grey, greenish tones, and pale brown, creates a pastoral atmosphere and emphasises the child's light-coloured figure. The combination of the portrait, basket of fruit, and roses gives the work an intimate and charming character, reflecting the growing interest in childhood and the depiction of children in natural surroundings during the Neoclassical period. The Frame and Reverse The miniature is mounted in an oval gilt-metal frame with relatively narrow borders decorated with a continuous foliate pattern. A circular suspension ring is fitted at the top, allowing the work to be worn as a pendant or hung for display. The foliate decoration surrounding the portrait complements the garden and roses depicted in the painting, giving the frame an elegant appearance. The reverse of the frame consists of a silver-grey metal plate held in place by folded metal tabs around the perimeter. At the centre of the reverse is a deep red fabric covering. The red fabric creates a decorative contrast with the metal and illustrates the construction of the frame. The Attributed Artist – Bernhard Edler von Schrötter (1772–1842) Bernhard Edler von Schrötter was born in Vienna in 1772 and died there in 1842. He was an Austrian painter, lithographer, and miniature artist active in the artistic environment of Vienna during the late 18th and first half of the 19th centuries. Between 1791 and 1794, he studied painting at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts. Later in his career, he collaborated with the lithographer Lorenz (Laurenz) Herr and worked on portraits, genre paintings, and works with religious subjects. Schrötter was primarily known for his activities in lithography, but he also painted miniature portraits. Among his portrait subjects were figures from the Viennese theatrical and social world. In miniature painting, he was influenced by the style of the French painter Jean-Baptiste Isabey (1767–1855), characterised by delicate treatment of facial features, soft colouring, and Neoclassical elegance. Schrötter participated in exhibitions at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts between 1813 and 1840. Artistic Background – Children's Portraiture circa 1800 During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, artistic interest in depicting children and representing them as individuals with personality and emotion increased. Influenced by Enlightenment ideas and the Neoclassical movement, artists began to portray children not only in formal clothing but also in natural surroundings and everyday activities. Portraits of children in gardens, with flowers, fruit, or animals, became a popular subject in European painting. Motifs of fruit and flowers may carry symbolic meanings associated with abundance, nature, innocence, and the stages of life, although not every detail in a work necessarily has a specific symbolic meaning. The present miniature reflects this trend through the depiction of the child in a rose garden holding a basket of pears. Artistic and Collecting Significance The miniature combines a refined portrait of a child with a pastoral scene incorporating a basket of fruit and rose bushes. The child's blue eyes, strawberry-blond hair, and natural expression give the portrait a distinctive and charming character. The attribution to Bernhard Edler von Schrötter, together with the dating to circa 1800 and the unusual composition, gives the work artistic, historical, and collecting interest. **Artist:** Attributed to Bernhard Edler von Schrötter (1772–1842) **Date:** Circa 1800 **Period:** Late 18th to Early 19th Century, Neoclassical **Country of Origin:** Europe, possibly Austria **Genre:** Portrait Miniature of a Child in a Pastoral Scene **Technique:** Watercolours on a natural substrate **Dimensions:** Approximately 7.6 × 6.0 cm **Frame:** Oval gilt-metal frame with continuous foliate decoration and a suspension ring **Front:** Protected by glass **Reverse:** Metal plate with a red fabric covering **Provenance:** Private Collection
Auction 02: Rare 18th–19th Century Portrait Miniatures & Mourning Jewellery — Melis Antiques & Art