John Simpson (British, 1811-after 1871): An oval enamelled copper self portrait miniature together with a rectangular enamelled copper portrait miniature of Mrs Simpson (probably Mrs William Page Simpson)

the first miniature with the sitter looking to dexter with mutton chop whiskers, wearing a black silk bow tie, the rear inscribed and dated Painted by J. Simpson for his son W. P. Simpson, Jan 1865, the second miniature of canted topped rectangular form, the sitter looking to dexter, her hair dressed with long ringlets, her black silk dress with laced collar, the rear signed dated Mrs Simpson 1855., by J. Simpson',
the first miniature, 4cm x 3.3cm, the second miniature, 5cm x 4cm (2)
Footnotes:
John Simpson (1811-after 1871) was trained as a porcelain painter at the Derby porcelain factory before moving to London in 1845. He soon established a practice as a miniature painter specialising in works on enamel, and fulfilled the first of many commissions for Queen Victoria in that year. He is last recorded describing himself at the end of his career as a 'photographic artist' (1871 census return); the date of his death is not known.