Cherubic

This piece may be small but it is undeniably impactful. Despite her very young age, the child is dressed just like an adult in a delightful décolleté pink dress with a white lace bodice enhanced by a matching beaded necklace and pretty flowers in her hair. The miniature is set in a gold bracelet clasp frame and was likely worn by the child’s doting mother.

The camera lens has picked up a speck of dust on her eyebrow and another on her chin but these are not visible with the naked eye.

A native of Devonshire, Richard Crosse (1742-1810) was born deaf and dumb, as was one of his sisters. He began painting miniatures as a hobby and in 1758 won a prize at the Society of Arts that inspired him to study art in London. He became a successful artist building up a distinguished clientele that included princes and dukes and earning the honour of being appointed Painter in Enamel to King George III.  Crosse fell in love with his cousin, Miss Cobley, but she did not reciprocate and married elsewhere, the disappointment reportedly turning him into a misanthrope. Due to his disability, Crosse painted with heightened sensitivity to his sitter’s character to create meticulously rendered portraits.

Ivory Exemption Ref.: W7D7MHVA