Despite unsigned, this classical lady portrait miniature have all stylistic and quality criteria to be attributed as authentical work by one of the best French empire portrait and miniature painter Jean-Baptiste Isabey (1767-1855).Jean Baptiste Isabey was one of most important painters of French Empire.. At nineteen, after some lessons from Dumont, miniature painter of Marie Antoinette, he became a pupil of Jacques Louis David. Employed at Versailles on portraits of the dukes of Angoulême and Berry, he was given a commission by the queen, which open the long list of those which he received, up ton the date of his death in 1855, from the successive rulers of France. Patronized by Josephine and Napoleon Bonaparte, he arranged the ceremonies of their coronation and prepared drawings for the publication intended as its official commemoration, A work for which he was paid by Louis XVIII, whose portrait (engraved, Debucourt) he executed in 1814. Although Isabey did homage to Napoleon on his return from Elba, he continued to enjoy the favour of the Restoration, and took part in arrangements for the coronation of Charles X. The monarchy of July conferred on him important on post office into connection with the royal collections, and Napoleon III granted him a pension, and the Cross of commander of the Legion of Honor. " Review of Troops by the first Consul" which important one of his most important compositions, and Isabey´ s " Boat, " --a charming drawing of himself and family-produced at a time when he was much occupied with lithography--had to immense success at the salon of 1820 (engraved, Landon, Annales, ith 125). His portrait of " Napoleon on Malmaison" is herd to be the best ever executed, and even his tiny head of the of the king of Rome, painted for a ,breast-pin, is distinguished by a decision and breadth which evidence the hand of a master.

Literature: Thieme/Becker "Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künstler.."Leipzig, 1999 ;E.Benezit "Dictionnaire des peintres , sculpteurs, dessinateurs et graveurs",Gründ, 1999.

Inscription: unsigned, on the reverse- old label with very illegible inscription with collection invent.number 16 and attribut. name ".... j.Isabey.."

Technique: painted in oval, watercolour on cardboard. Luxuriousy original classicist frame with gilt bronze oval mount .

Measurements: image unframed 4 " x 5 " (10 x 12,7 cm), framed 7 1/2" x 9 1/4 " ( 19 x 23,3 cm)

Condition: in very good condition.