Masterfully miniature on ivory was executed ca.in 1790s and depicted (due to the antique back inscription) the Minister of War of the Duke of Nassau. Despite the absence of signature , its quality, very similar style give us confidence for attribution the hand of famous French miniature painter of the end 18th, beginning of 19th century Jean Jacques Baptiste Augustin (1759 - 1832).

Literature: Henri Bouchot, La Miniature française de 1750 à 1825, Goupil, 1907; Bernd Pappe " Jean-Baptiste Augustin. une novelle excellence dans l'art du portrait en miniature", Bern, 2015; Fleuriot de Langle et Schlumberger, "Les miniatures de Jacques Augustin", Connaissance des Arts, n° 69, November 1957.

Inscription: unsigned, on the backside - old inscription in German: "Kriegsminister des Herzig von Nassau Geyer, Urgrossvater des...."

Technique: gouache on ivory. Gold-plated and hand-crafted wood frame of the later period.

Measurements: miniature diameter 3 1/8" ( 8 cm); framed diameter 7 1/2" (19 cm).

Condition: in quite good condition, a vertical crack on the right site.