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Portrait Miniature of a Gentleman, Empire Period, c. 1810–1815

Dear collectors, Noblesse-Collection is pleased to propose you this very attractive early

19th-century French portrait miniature depicting a fashionable young gentleman, signed “FINOT.”

at the left, dating from circa 1810–1815, during the French First Empire.

The sitter is portrayed bust-length against a restrained olive-green background. He has remarkably

pale blue eyes, short dark hair arranged naturally over the forehead, pronounced sideburns and a

small gold hoop earring.

He wears a dark coat with a very high collar and an exceptionally elaborate white neckcloth and

shirt front. The high, sculptural arrangement around the neck, together with the short hairstyle and

sideburns, is particularly characteristic of fashionable male appearance during the Napoleonic period.

The portrait is particularly appealing for the contrast between the sitter's very pale complexion and

blue eyes, his dark hair and coat, and the subtle olive-green background. The face is delicately

modelled, with considerable attention paid to the eyes and expression.

The miniature is clearly signed “FINOT.” at the left.

Finot was a French miniature painter active from 1802 to 1816, during the Consulate and

First Empire periods. He is recorded by Nathalie Lemoine-Bouchard in her authoritative

reference work Les Peintres en miniature actifs en France, 1650–1850

(Paris, Éditions de l'Amateur, 2008).

This portrait, dating from circa 1810–1815, therefore belongs directly to Finot's documented period

of activity and is an appealing example of French male portraiture from the Napoleonic era.

Period: Circa 1810–1815 – French First Empire / Napoleonic Period

Style: First Empire / Neoclassical

School: French School

Subject: Portrait of a fashionable young gentleman with pale blue eyes, wearing a dark coat,

elaborate high white neckcloth and gold hoop earring; signed “FINOT.”

Frame: Presented in an antique rectangular dark wooden frame with a large oval black inner

surround and finely decorated gilt-metal bezel. The wooden frame has a significant old break

and separation at the upper edge, clearly visible in the photographs.

Dimensions:

Portrait excluding frame: 6.4 × 5.2 cm / 2.52 × 2.05 inches

Overall including frame: 12.4 × 11.8 cm / 4.88 × 4.65 inches

Condition: The portrait miniature is in very good antique condition, with the painted surface

remarkably well preserved. No significant paint loss is visible. The face, white neckcloth and finely

detailed shirt front are particularly well preserved. Some light scattered surface marks or deposits

are visible on the dark coat, the exact nature of which is uncertain; these do not significantly affect

the overall appearance of the portrait. The small dark spot at the centre of the shirt front appears

to be an original painted button rather than an area of paint loss. Overall, the miniature presents

extremely well for its age. Please examine the photographs carefully as they form an integral

part of the condition description.

A particularly appealing signed French First Empire portrait miniature, painted by the documented

French miniaturist Finot (active 1802–1816) and displaying the distinctive elegance of fashionable

male portraiture during the Napoleonic period.

COMBINED PURCHASE – SAVE $70

If you purchase an item and interested in another item from my store, simply send me

a message through eBay before purchasing the second item.

I will be pleased to offer you a US $70 reduction on the second item. Both items will

be shipped together in the same parcel.

Parcels are shipped daily at 2:00 PM (Paris time). To benefit from this offer, please

contact me before 2:00 PM (Paris time) on the same day as your first purchase.

FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING – FedEx International Priority

Fast, secure and fully tracked international shipping.

USA: No customs duties on qualifying antiques over 100 years old.

An antique declaration is included with the shipping documents.

ABOUT NOBLESSE COLLECTION

Based in Le Mans, France, Noblesse Collection has been specializing in antiques and works of art for over 13 years.Our collection reflects a particular taste for fine antique silverware, especially French pieces from the 19th and early 20th centuries, alongside portrait miniatures, paintings and carefully selected decorative objects.We are constantly looking for pieces with character, whether for their quality, rarity, craftsmanship or simply their decorative appeal. Each object is individually selected with the aim of offering distinctive and authentic pieces at fair and carefully considered prices.

Quality and condition are particularly important to us.
Our silverware is carefully inspected and professionally cleaned when necessary by an experienced silversmith based in Le Mans.We also pay great attention to the packing and shipping of every item. Each piece is carefully protected using professional packing materials and several layers of protection to ensure that it reaches you safely.Orders are usually dispatched within 24 hours of receiving payment, together with an invoice. We ship worldwide using FedEx, with secure and fully tracked delivery.

Your satisfaction is our priority.
Should you encounter any problem with your purchase or delivery, please contact us and we will respond as quickly as possible. We remain responsible for your parcel until it has been safely delivered to you.We accept returns within 30 days of delivery. If you change your mind for any reason, return shipping costs will be covered by us. Once the item has been received and checked, your refund will be processed promptly.

Buy with confidence from Noblesse Collection — 13 years of experience in sourcing and selling distinctive antiques and works of art.