MINIATURE AFTER SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS. POSSIBLY, 19TH CENTURIES. NEOCLASSICAL FRAME.

Miniature with bronze frame in the Neoclassical style (19th century). “Mrs. Smith (Charlotte's Delaval) and her children (George, Henry, Louisa, and Charlotte).” Following the work of Sir Joshua Reynolds. Possibly 19th century. Signed in the lower right corner (Reynolds). A rectangular frame, arranged vertically, features a series of moldings with various decorations and a crest at the top adorned with interlacing patterns, leaves, and openwork flowers. Inside, there is a band of fabric embroidered with plant motifs, and an antique textile on the back protects the artwork. The central miniature depicts a natural landscape background (trees and an opening to the horizon to the right are visible) and figures in the foreground. An elegantly dressed lady raises her hand to her cheek; the three children to her right, also in formal attire, are playing together (two of them are looking directly at the viewer). The miniature is closely inspired by a painting now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It is a portrait of “Lady Smith (Charlotte's Delaval) and her children (George, Henry, Louisa, and Charlotte)” by Sir Joshua Reynolds (Plympton 1723–London 1792) from 1787 (Inventory 25.110.10). It is known that engravings were made of this painting (Francesco Bartolozzi in 1789; R. Josey in 1880) and that Samuel Shelley (1750/56–1808) made an oval miniature closely inspired by it (Lady Smith appears hatless in it), which is in a private collection (sold by Sotheby's in London in 1977). The most noticeable changes in the miniature, compared to Sir Joshua's work, are the color of Mrs. Smith's dress, the children's faces (more delicate), the background landscape, the overall tone of the painting, and the addition of flowers in the lower right corner. Another miniature (by the British artist Frank W. Wilkin) depicting the three children of Sir Robert Smith and Lady Charlotte, also inspired by Sir Joshua Reynolds' painting, is held in a separate private collection. Samuel Shelley was born in London and was largely self-taught, best known for his miniature watercolor portraits. He first exhibited his work at the Society of Artists in 1773, and a year later entered the Royal Academy Schools, where his work was influenced by Sir Joshua Reynolds. His work is held in numerous private collections worldwide, as well as by the Yale Center for British Art, the National Portrait Gallery in London, the Royal Collection of the British Royal Family, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and others. Francis William Wilkin, or Frank Wilkin (1791–1842), was an engraver specializing in portrait painting who began by working on miniatures, although he also explored other genres.

· Size: 19x13 cms / 37x25 cms.