French school; c. 1850.

French school; c. 1850.
"Catterie Lefense Vincent Dison."
Miniature in oil.
It has slight damage on the pictorial surface.
It has an informative label on the back.
Measurements: 7 x 6 cm; 11.5 x 10.5 cm (frame).
Miniature painting representing Catherine Lefense Vincent, born in Dison in 1806 and died in Roubaix on November 17, 1883. The work, probably intended for the intimate and family environment, responds to the character of the miniature portraits of the nineteenth century: a small format that favors emotional proximity rather than monumental display.
The figure is portrayed with sobriety and dignity, emphasizing the essential features of the face with a meticulous stroke and soft colors that give luminosity to the skin and serenity to the expression. The attention to detail, from the delicacy of the features to the insinuation of the hairstyle or clothing, reflects the commemorative and affective purpose of this type of piece, which served as a tangible reminder of the person portrayed.
Catherine Lefense was married to Nicolas Arize, and the miniature portrait can also be understood in that intimate context of family memory, in which the painting becomes an object of affective preservation, destined to perpetuate the image of the wife and accompany the daily life of those who kept it. This small work thus combines the technical expertise of the miniaturist and the symbolic value of the representation, which immortalizes with delicacy and simplicity the memory of a life.