Antique Artist ROSE Signed Portrait Miniature on Ivory, Bronze Frame

Fine Art : Paintings : Miniature Paintings, Grand Tour

 

A splendid portrait on ivory, done far later than most, and most assuredly a private commission, signed by NYC artist ROSE, as noted. This delicately executed tiny portrait has all the detail and personality of a much larger portrait and though I don't know who the gentleman depicted is, surely it's a very agreeable likeness. These turn of the century portraits were fashionable for the wealthier set whose ancestry would have likely been also immortalized in minatures on fine old ivory wafers, and displayed for all to see. The tradition of a portraitist setting down a person's likeness in this fashion was actually pre-photography, and at the time (pre 1839) the only way to create a likeness of a person's visage. With the discovery of the early photography process by Daguerre and others working at the time, most portraitists lost their livlihood as photography took over. But there remained a few patrons of the art of miniatures well into the early 20th century - those who, like this gentleman, desired to have the old fashioned portrait painted on ivory. This artist is noted to be a NYC artist, but I did not find him on the internet. Experts out there? I remember a while back we had some California miniatures of the same era that were signed A. Rose, and they went far higher than we'd anticipate. Someone out there knows something we don't (not unusual, really - we can't know it all!). This one was a well-acquired miniature out of California, as well, and we're offering it at a price way below reason, but based on our own acquisition cost alone. Collectors - tell us what you think of it. Enjoy a bargain! The last Rose portrait we offered brought over $1700.

Excellent condition, as you see. Opened for a scan, it does have a tiny hairline, as shown, but it isn't visible at all from the front or in the frame. Splendid portrait, a heavy bronze frame to protect it perfectly for generations to come! Based on his outfit, we'd date this one at the turn of the 19th to 20th century, no later than 1910.

Item ID: 107pmrose