Posted 13 years ago
jaboes
(6 items)
I don't have much background on this other than it was displayed on the dresser of a woman who (sadly) passed away at age 70. Her Mother was from Russia and they were well-to-do.
It is a lovely serene portrait.
It's impossible to tell if it is a painting on porcelain or on ivory or vellum, or could just be a print under glass. That can only be determined if taken out of the frame and examined by an expert. It's possible there is writing on the back if it's an authentic antique and if porcelain, there will be some marks and possible signed on the front.
You can look at it, without taking it apart, with a loupe or strong magnifying glass and see if there are tiny dots, or pixels. It appears there are small dots but that might just be your photograph. If so, it is not authentic and could be a print. If hand-painted, that will be apparent. Reproductions have been made using decals and aren't hand-painted and will have tiny dots. Let an expert look at it if you can't determine any of this.
My first impression is that is is paper that has been cut down since the oil lamp has been cut off. I am just throwing this out since again, impossible to make any determination from a photo.
The easel frame was at some time late place inside the plexiglass or glass frame I suppose for protection. The gilt metal frame (it could be gilded bronze) can stand on it's own without the protective outer frame.
The sitter depicts the Duchess of Devonshire as the Vestal Virgin, after the original art by Angelica Kauffmann.
This is an antique KPM porcelain of the same subject. KPM's are highly sought after and fetch good prices. I'm simply showing you the subject matter:
http://www.skinnerinc.com/asp/fullCataloguese.asp?salelot=2475+++++463+&refno=++816503