Young Lady in Blue, by Frederick Buck, Circa 1785

An Irish portrait miniature of a young woman with light brown hair and blue eyes, wearing a blue dress with white fichu, against a sky background. The portrait is set in the original gold frame, the reverse with brightwork surrounding a glazed aperture holding the gold monogram TLS set on plaited hair, and a brooch pin. The case, according to a previous owner, was made by Buck's father, who was a gold and silversmith.

Frederick Buck (1771-c.1840) was born in Cork, Ireland to the silversmith Johnathan Buck. Both Frederick and his brother Adam became popular miniaturists in their day. Frederick attended the Dublin Society Schools, and then established a large practice in Cork. He was particularly busy during the Peninsular War, when Cork was a port of embarkation, and he was in demand to paint portraits of officers passing through. Examples of Buck's work may be seen in the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Dimensions: 2 x 1 ½ inches.

Gentleman with Brown Eyes, by Andrew Plimer, Circa 1790

A British portrait miniature of a gentleman with brown eyes, wearing a powdered wig, a brown coat, a cream vest and a white stock, against a sky background. The portrait is set in the original gold frame, the reverse with cobalt glass, and a glazed aperture holding a hairwork and the gold monogram MWM.

Andrew Plimer (1763-1837), one of England's most famous miniaturists, was brother to Nathaniel Plimer, another well-known miniaturist. As adolescents, Andrew and Nathaniel ran away from home, and after various adventures came to London in 1781. Andrew took employment as a man-servant to the miniaturist Richard Cosway, who recognized his artistic talent and arranged lessons for him. In 1785 Andrew left Cosway's home and, setting up in practice on his own, launched one of the most memorable careers in the history of miniature painting. Plimer painted on vellum, card, ivory and paper, and executed portraits in oil as well as miniatures. His works can be found in most collections, including those of the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, the Ashmolean Museum, and Oxford. For further information regarding this artist, see the book Andrew and Nathaniel Plimer, by Dr. G. C. Williamson.

Dimensions: 2 7/8 x 2 7/16 inches.

Girl in Feathered Hat, Holding A Dog, English School, Circa 1795

A lovely British portrait miniature of a young girl with blonde hair and hazel eyes, wearing a hat with white feathers and a white dress with a blue sash, and holding a small black and white dog with twinkling eyes, against a pale brown background. The painting is set in the original gold locket frame with an inset mat with brightwork, and a solid reverse.

Dimensions: 2 x 1 1/2 inches.

Lady with Green Eyes, by Edward Miles, Circa 1790

An attractive British portrait miniature of a woman with powdered hair and green eyes, wearing a white dress, a pearl necklace, and a white bandeau in her hair, against a sky background. The painting is set in the original gilt case, the reverse with a lock of brown hair.

Edward Miles (1752-1828) was born in Yarmouth, and became an errand boy to a surgeon who encouraged him in drawing. He entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1772 and exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1775 to 1797. He painted portraits and taught drawing, working in Norwich (1779 and 1782), Russia (1797 to approximately 1806), and Philadelphia (1807 to 1828). In 1792 he was appointed miniature painter to the Duchess of York, and later to Queen Charlotte. While in St. Petersburg he became court painter to Tsar Paul I. Miles was friendly with Sir Thomas Lawrence, and the American miniaturist James Reid Lambdin was his pupil. He settled in Philadelphia where he became a founding member of the Academy, and later died there. His work may be found at Windsor Castle and the Victoria and Albert Museum in England, an oil portrait of him by Sir William Beechey is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and 15 miniatures by him, including a self-portrait, are held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Dimensions: 3 x 2 ½ inches.

The Reverend J. Preston, by George Place, Circa 1790

A British portrait miniature of the Reverend J. Preston, Clerk, with blue eyes and brown hair, wearing a wig, black coat, and white shirt, against a dark green background. The painting is set in the original gold metal frame, the reverse engraved: The Rev.d J. Preston Clk / Ob. 23rd Sep. 1806/ At 68.

There were several branches of Prestons in County Meath, around Dublin, during the 18th century.

George Place (d. 1805), was one of the very talented late 18th century English miniaturists who, in the wake of Meyer and Cosway's pioneer work, went on to develop highly individual styles, and flourished in the artistic atmosphere of the time. The son of a Dublin draper, Place entered the Dublin Society Schools in December 1775, where he studied under F.R. West. Place practiced for a time in Dublin, painting in miniature and in oil, and then went to London, where he exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1791 to 1797. In 1798 he received permission to go to Bengal with his wife, and subsequently worked in Lucknow, where he painted portraits of Nawab and members of his court. It is likely that many of Place's paintings painted in Lucknow perished during the Mutiny. Examples of his work may be found at the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Ashmolean Museum and the British Museum.

Dimensions: 3 x 2 ½ inches.

Woman in White Dress, Signed by Peter Paillou, Dated 1828

A British portrait miniature of a young woman with green eyes and brown hair, wearing a white lace dress, a blue shawl, pearl earrings, and a tortoiseshell hair comb, against a sunset background. The painting is signed at the right: P. Paillou. 1828. The backing paper also bears an inscription which appears to read: J. Wiseman Jones, 122 Vyse Dr. The portrait is set in the original gilt pendant frame with a cobalt glass reverse.

Peter Paillou, Jr. (c. 1757-c. 1831), a talented artist whose works are somewhat scarce, was the son of an artist who specialized in paintings of birds and animals. Peter Paillou entered the Royal Academy school in 1784 at age 27, and subsequently exhibited there from 1786 to 1800. Paillou worked primarily in England, and in Scotland circa 1820. Examples of his work are in the Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Museum, the National Galleries of Scotland, and the Nationalmuseum, Stockholm.

Dimensions: 3 3/8 x 2 ¾ inches.

Gentleman in Embroidered Coat, by Perpete Evrard, Circa 1725

A Belgian portrait miniature, on vellum, of a gentleman with green eyes, wearing a long powdered wig, a tobacco-colored coat embroidered with flowers, a white shirt and a white cravat, against a sky background. The painting is set in the original octagon shagreen case with a decorated front.

Perpete Evrard (Eurard) (1662-1727), was born in Dinant, Belgium. He executed portraits in oil on canvas and in miniature, and worked at the Madrid and Vienna royal courts. He died in The Hague in 1727. Schidlof says of him: "He was a good miniaturist who sometimes worked in the style of Benjamin Arlaud."

Dimensions: 2 ½ x 2 inches.

Child in White, English School, Circa 1800

A charming portrait miniature of a child with large blue eyes and blond hair, wearing a white frock, against a sky background. The painting is set in the original gilt pendant frame, the reverse with a blond hairwork set with seed pearls on opalescent glass backed with foil.

Dimensions: 2 5/8 x 2 1/8 inches.

Woman in Pearls, Signed by Charles James Turrell, Dated 1902

A beautiful portrait miniature of a woman with blue eyes and brown hair, wearing a white dress, a star brooch, a pearl necklace and pearl earrings, against a sky background. The painting is signed at the right: C.T./ 1902, and is set in a gold locket case with blue and green enamel on the front, and glazed blue silk on the reverse.

Charles James Turrell (1845-1932) exhibited at the Royal Academy and the Society of Miniaturists from 1873 to 1932, and also at the Paris Salon. Among his sitters were Queen Victoria, King Edward, Queen Alexandra and Queen Maude of Norway. Turrell often wintered in the United States, where he exhibited at the Brooklyn Art Association and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. His sitters in the USA included the Whitney, McCormick, Vanderbilt, Ryerson and Morgan families. Turrell married an American woman, and the wedding announcement for his daughter Sybil, who married the American Dean Kirby, appeared in the New York Times on June 15, 1910. Further information on Turrell may be found in Miniatures, by Dudley Heath, pages 215 to 217. Works by him are held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Worcester Art Museum, and others. He died in White Plains, New York.

Dimensions: Image: 4 x 3 ¼ inches.

Provenance: Christies, September 28, 1999, Lot 35.