French school; last third of the XVIII century.

French school; last third of the eighteenth century.
"Portrait of a lady.
Miniature.
Measurements: 10,5 x 10,5 cm (frame).
The miniature portraits, developed in Europe since the sixteenth century, are one of the most refined manifestations of the art of intimate portraiture. They were small paintings conceived to be set in objects of personal and affective use, such as medallions, table clocks or delicate boxes, which favored their portable character and their function as a souvenir or emotional link. Their formats, usually oval or circular, responded both to aesthetic criteria and to their integration into these supports.
The execution of these pieces demanded an extraordinary technical precision, using diverse materials such as oil on copper, tin or ivory, as well as gouaches on parchment or cardboard. From the 18th century onwards, watercolor on ivory became widespread, a technique that allowed a greater subtlety in the flesh tones and a particularly appreciated luminosity.
This genre reached a remarkable diffusion in the courtly and bourgeois spheres, where it functioned as a symbol of affection, memory and status. However, its practice began to decline in the second half of the 19th century, in parallel to the rise of photography, which offered a faster and more accessible alternative for the reproduction of personal images.