This miniature portrait is unsigned. Originally, it had been thought it might be by Jean Honore Fragonard (1732-1806). However, most of his miniatures are bust portrait, rather than three-quarter length.Instead, a kind expert has advised this miniature is probably by Rosalba Carriera, although badly retouched overall.
Rosalba Carriera (1675-1757) was born in Venice. Schidlof observes she was universally famous for her portraits in pastel and her miniatures. She was one of the very first artists to use ivory and two miniatures by her appear in the Louvre catalogue.
Schidlof also comments "The miniatures of Rosalba Carriera are painted with a lot of verve. Now they are often faded in the flesh parts, but those which are well kept show fresh colours and a great harmony. The shadows in "poinille", are blue, the hair rapidly painted in gouache. In almost all her works there is a dress, a cloak, or a drapery of a fine, intense blue."
Two nice three-quarter length examples of her work can be seen at www.cimec.ro/Monumente/
The identity of the young girl in this miniature is unknown. 1155
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