Enamel Porcelain Miniature in Mount

Hi guys,

Does anyone know what I can search to find items similar to this. I'm not fully certain about it but my guess was it being a painting of someones daughter for when they are in travels

 

Typically these are miniature copies of well-known paintings made for home decorative use. Have you done an internet image search to see if you can identify?

Debora

 

It looks like she's pregnant,doesnt it? Very pretty.

 

Can you see what is written on the paper roll?

 

Women were often painted as pregnant, whether they were or not. How big is it?

 

Would not surprise me if we found that the sitter is actually a young male. Why would a female have the paper rolled up in herhand and what looks like it might be a painting holding up her arm?

But what's with the little blue snake in the cup? Anybody know?

 

Yes, something not right there. Women in that period were not pictured with long, loose hair or handling documents.

Debora

 

what's with the snake in the cup......is that a physician ?

 

Meaning either professional or allegorical.

Debora

 

he's from Star Trek...All Our Yesterdays episode !!!!

 

OMG! It does look like him

 

A miniature copy of "St. John the Evangelist" by Domenichino? It would also explain the wine cup and the snake. (https://museumandgallery.org/domenico-zampieri-called-il-domenichino/

Nadia

 

Very good!

 

Clever, clever you!

Debora

 

Zampieri/Domenichino employed that pose for his Cumaean Sibyls too:



St. John the Evangelist & the various sibyls are all connected to prophecy, so there's a kind of mythologic to it.

 

Welcome, Nadia. This one's for you:

 

The frame, mat and preserver all appear to be from about 1860, or at least the style was used for photographic image frames at that time. Don't know whether the porcelain miniature was originally in that frame or added later. The miniature could be older, or newer if that was the situation.

 

Thanks for all the fascinating insights. Im sorry I've been inactive since posting. I thought I'd learn more about it but finding the inspiration is even more incredible. Thank you so much!