Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are pleased to offer for sale this beautifully painted oval Watercolour Miniature Portrait of a Young Lady, in a brass frame. The Miniature has been painted on thin card in watercolours and depicts a young lady wearing a gauzy white gown with flower corsage, and her dark brown hair in the simple fashion of the period, with a centre parting and the hair drawn over the ears and back to a bun at the back. She has brown eyes and a sweet, demure expression. Around her neck is a heart shaped locket, with a cross hanging from the point. It is unsigned but we believe it to be from the circle of A. E. Chalon RA (1780-1860).

We found a painting of the young Queen Victoria by A. E. Chalon, and her hairstyle is exactly the same as in this miniature.

Alfred Chalon was born in Geneva from a father who soon was hired as professor at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in England.

With his brother John James Chalon (1778–1854), Alfred became an artist. Entered the Royal Academy schools in 1797, he joined the Associated Artists in Water-Colours, a group of aquarellists. In the Academy, he was elected an associate (ARA) in 1812, then academician (RA) in 1816.

Known for his portraits of the good society of London, he was chosen by Queen Victoria to paint a gift to her mother: Victoria in her State robes going to the House of Lords for her first official act, the prorogation of the Parliament, on 17 July 1837. After this task, Chalon was entitled Portrait Painter in Water Colour to Her Majesty and gained some celebrity. His 1837 portrait was engraved by Samuel Cousins and distributed to the public the day of Victoria's coronation, the 28 June 1838. Then, starting in 1851, the "Chalon head" appeared on some British colonies postage stamps.

Bachelors, the Chalon brothers lived together. In 1860, Alfred died at Campden Hill, in Kensington, London and was buried with his brother in Highgate Cemetery.
The miniature is presented in possibly its original ornate brass frame which is composed of a double row of small leaves, overlaid at the top and twice on both sides, with crossed ribbons. There is a brass wire hanging loop at the top and the miniature is glazed.

Image szie: 3 7/8 x 3 3/8 inches - 9.85cm x 8.55cm

Frame size (excluding loop): just over 4 3/4 x 4 1/8 inches - 12.3cm x 10.5cm

Medium: Watercolours on card.

Condition: Very good. There is no foxing and the colours are strong. The frame is in very good condition, with a few missing claws commensurate with age, as shown.