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Lady in Black Feathered Hat, by Joseph Grassi, Circa 1780
A gorgeous Austrian portrait miniature of a young
woman with blue eyes and brown hair, wearing a black hat with
black feathers and a diamante buckle, a blue dress and a cream
shawl fastened with a jeweled clip. The painting is set in a
gold locket frame, the reverse holding a glazed hair bouquet
tied with gold cord, set on blue silk.
Joseph Grassi (c. 1758-1838) an eminent artist,
was born in Vienna, and studied at the Academy of Vienna from
age 10 on. In 1785 he painted a miniature of Mozart, with whom
he was friendly. Grassi became a member of the Academy in 1791,
and exhibited miniatures and portraits in oils. He went briefly
to Warsaw where he was in favour as a portraitist with the aristocracy.
He painted Kosziuszko in 1792, and through the help of the duchess
Anna Charlotte Dorothea Biron de Courlande, was appointed teacher
at the Academy of Dresden, in 1800, a post which he held until
1816.
Material: Watercolor on ivory.
Dimensions: 3 ¼ x 2 ½ inches.
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