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Item Ref. 3842

ENGLISH SCHOOL, early 18th century

This is without doubt the tiniest portrait miniature I have ever offered, as demonstrated by it size relative to an English 20p coin. It is believed to be a portrait of Queen Anne, the last of the Stuart monarchs who reigned from March 1702 to August 1714. She was a deeply religious woman and believed that her failure to have a family and, therefore, an heir (she was pregnant on seventeen occasions but only gave birth to five living children all of whom died in childhood) was a punishment from God for her sins. Here she is seen in regal attire wearing a heavily patterned dress and a jewelled crown. The portrait was probably painted as a special gift to one of her loyal supporters at court.

The miniature is painted en grisaille on vellum. It is set in the original octagonal silver frame with a crystal covering. Fine condition.

Framed size: 15 x 14mm + hanger

S O L D !

Item Ref. 2862

EDWARD TAYLER RMS (1828-1906)

A portrait of a dapper young gentleman with hazel brown eyes, curled hair and flushed cheeks. He is dressed in a black coat, a black cravat decorated with a gold stick-pin, and a smart tartan waistcoat.

Watercolour on ivory housed in a gilded silver fausse montre frame, the reverse glazed to reveal cream silk. Excellent condition.

Framed size: 25/8 x 21/4" (80 x 58mm) + hanger

Price: £925

Item Ref. 3061

CHARLES HAYTER, (1761-1835)

A portrait of a Regency lady in a white décolleté dress. Her hair is arranged in curls and dressed with an eye-catching woven hair and pearl band. She also wears a bright coral bead necklace. The background is an aqua-blue that matches the lady's eyes.

Watercolour on ivory signed and dated on the obverse: 'C. Hayter 1802'. The portrait is set in the original gold frame glazed on the reverse to display woven hair.
Excellent condition.

Framed size: 2¾ x 23/8" (72 x 60mm)

Price: £875

Item Ref. 3704

ENGLISH SCHOOL, early 19th century

This is an unusual miniature portrait depicting a classical image of an infant representing St. John the Baptist, dressed only in an animal skin, seated in a rugged landscape (the wilderness) at sunrise with a lamb. It is based on the saying of John the Baptist: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29).

Watercolour on ivory set in an ornate gilt wood frame with an inner gilt slip. Fine condition.

Framed size: 6¾ x 6" (173 x 157mm)

Price: £475

Item Ref. 2828

ENGLISH SCHOOL, circa 1815

A portrait of a beautiful young Regency lady dressed for the evening in a classical pale pink décolleté gown with a white underslip decorated with a brooch at her corsage, a pearl necklace and large pearl drop earrings. Her hair is arranged in the fashionable ‘à la Madonna’ style with tumbling curls.

Watercolour on ivory set in the original silver oblong frame with canted corners and a solid back. Excellent condition.

Framed size: 33/8 x 23/4" (85 x 70mm) max.

Price: £1,275

Item Ref. 3914

JAMES H. GILLESPIE (1893-after 1849)

This profile miniature portrait shows a young lady dressed for the evening in a pale blue dress with a low rounded décolletage edged with white lace. She has teamed the dress with a fashionably short coral beaded necklace and gold drop earrings. Her short hair is arranged in close curls. The style of her dress dates the portrait to around 1820.

The portrait is watercolour on card with an orange and blue hatched backdrop that can be associated with the work of the Anglo-American profilist James H. Gillespie (see News & Comments for new information on Gillespie gleaned from one of his handbills). The portrait is set in a traditional papier-mâché frame with and acorn hanger.

Framed size: 5¼ x 4½" (132 x 112mm)

Price: £180