19C BLUE BONNET ARISTOCRATIC LADY FRENCH PORTRAIT MINIATURE AFTER MICHAEL MORITZ DAFFINGER

A 19th century French Portrait Miniature on Bone, After Michael Moritz Daffinger (Austrian, 1790-1849), depicting an aristocratic lady wearing a blue bonnet, set in an elaborate gilt bronze metal frame.

The Frame: The period 19th century gilt bronze frame finely decorated with pediment torch and arrow crest, below a ribbon and floral open work top, acanthus leaf design throughout, floral rosettes, wreath and garlands motif over a stippled inner border.

ARTIST BIO:
Moritz Michael Daffinger was the son of the porcelain painter Johann Leopold Daffinger. As a ten year old boy, Daffinger was already designing garlands of flowers for his mother who embroidered gloves for society ladies. As an eleven year old he started his apprenticeship in the imperial porcelain manufactory.

He studied at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste where he was a pupil of Heinrich Friedrich Füger and dedicated himself to porcelain painting. From 1809 onwards he exclusively painted portraits, particularly miniatures on ivory. From 1812 he worked as a portraitist for Prince Metternich, and from 1836 was master of the portrait collection belonging to Princess Melanie von Metternich.

He was strongly influenced by the English portrait painter Thomas Lawrence who came to Vienna in 1815 during the Congress. After the death of his daughter in 1841, Daffinger turned to flower painting. Moritz Michael Daffinger was so important as a portrait miniaturist that he influenced most of Austria's later miniaturists. His oeuvre includes over 1,000 miniature portraits.

DETAILS:
- PORTRAIT SIZE: Height of portrait 4 x 3-3/8 inches.
- OVERALL SIZE: Overall 8 x 5.75 inches.
- CONDITION: Very good to excellent. Portrait & Frame are of Gem+ quality.

Very good to excellent. Portrait & Frame are of Gem+ quality.