SOLD Fabulous Antique Miniature Painting, Nude in Tortoise Shell Frame - Tortoiseshell

Fine Art : Paintings : Miniature Paintings, Grand Tour

 

Though this little masterpiece is not on ivory, but is instead on a very early wafer of celluloid (circa 1880s), it's absolutely one of the finest old paintings in miniature. The frame does test out to be real tortoise shell, as we suspected it would, and we weren't very disappointed at all to find our 'ivory' miniature is on early celluloid, since it is still splendid. The artist on this miniature seems wasted without a following, a signature, a history for us, but his/her work is a lasting memorial to the very considerabler talent he or she had. The figures are expansive, elegant, perfectly placed for best impact of light and dark space in the composition, and are so fanciful and appealing, you'll love it. The pose reminds me of an American artist's (KC artist, Thomas Hart Benton) rendition of "Persephone", which is a personal favorite of mine in the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. Those of you who know the painting will know just what I mean.

Excellent condition, both painting and frame, and a wonderful addition to your own art collection in miniature.

Item ID: 1205pmnude