Framed Adorned Painting of Actress Shown in Profile and in Costume, with a Oriental Desert Setting

Very Good Minus. A curious adorned picture, with the primary element of interest, a woman in profile and almost definitely based on an actress in costume for a role, is cut out and appended to a card, and then onto her are mounted various accessories such as her metallic dangling earrings, her sash, etc. The background is desert, and there is a lightly penciled interior of perhaps a crypt. This last piece doesn't blend in with the background; it seems apart, and more like an inset illustration. We do not know who the portrait is of, whether a real person or the character being played, but the mystery of the thing we find fascinating. We base our supposition of this being a theatrical portrait to its strong resemblance to adorned prints of the early nineteenth century. We do emphasize, though, that this picture, or the major part of the picture, is not a print but rather original artwork. N.d., circa 1830. With frame, 20 by 17 cm. Visible, 13.5 by 10 cm. The wooden frame works well with the picture. It could use some restoration of its back but is worth preserving. The painting has light dusty soiling but otherwise strikes us a sufficiently clean that nothing need be done. (Inventory #: 19925)