Presented is a wonderful antique French miniature portrait, in a superb quality frame. This piece dates to circa 1860-1900. The portrait itself depicts a man and two women in the foreground of a lovely landscape scene, the man reading a book to the two ladies. The portrait is very detailed and well painted, the figures are quite lively and the curls of their hair and folds of their colorful clothing are beautifully rendered. The frame is gilt brass with very ornate decoration on each edge in the form of detailed cast and applied sprays of flowers, with two recumbent griffons likewise in very rich detail along the top edge. The portrait is round, inside an interior round framing and a matting of rich red grosgrain fabric, for a very sumptuous look. The frame has an easel style back stand as well as a loop for hanging.
This piece is in excellent condition. The portrait itself is in great shape, with no losses to the paint and no damages. The frame is likewise in great shape, with no splits, no dents, no breaks, and no repairs.
The frame itself measures about 7 1/4 x 6 3/8 inches, and the visible area of the portrait is about 4 1/2 inches in diameter. -jm
