Masterful miniature on ivory from the early 19 century, signed in the middle right on the edge (although that signature  is partly scratched, however we can read clearly "J.Grassi"), on the reverse - two old collector´s inscriptions in German: 1.  on the cover : J.Grassi (1757-1838), Miniature portrait of a Dresden court actor" and  2. on the backside of miniature   :  J.Grassi, 1806 Dresden (in pensil) and lower with ink : Fried.Jonas Beschorz, born 1767, died 1841, in 1790-1837-in Court Theater in Berlin  All this inscriptions can be see on our photos. Due to the quality, style and signature/inscriptions we are sure , that it is rare portrait miniature by the very well known Austrian-German neoclassical portraitist Josef Grassi.

Josef (Giuseppe) Grassi was born ca 1758 in an Italian family , which lived in Vienna from the 17th century. In 1768, 10 years old, he began studying at the Vienna Academy, and very soon achieved great success, especially among women, as a skilled portraitist, miniaturist and later as painter of larger portraits in oil. In 1791 Grassi was admitted as member to the Vienna Academy for his portrait works. Already in 1790, through, he moved to Poland. In Warsaw, on the recommendation of J.-B. Lampi, he got the vacancy of a painter at the court of the Polish King Stanislaus August II. In 1793, upon Lampi´s return to Vienna, Grassi advanced to the favorite portraitist of Polish court and high aristocracy.
1797 was obviously the year of Grassi´s first visit in Castle Sagan in Silezia (now Czech Republic). Later stays at the castle followed. The duchess von Sagan is supposed to be the person who helped Grassi to commissions and to Academy professor title (1800) in Dresden, where he taught along with Anton Graff. During next years the artist spent a year in Gotha, and from 1808 to 1820 lived in Rome, enjoying great popularity. From 1821 he lived in Dresden again, leading a secluded life without any official job. He died there in 1838.

Provenance: Collection of Prof.Dr.E. Ullmann, Vienna

Literature:  Thieme/Becker "Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künsler..", Leipzig, 1999;  Prof.H.Fuchs "Austrian Miniature Artists"(in german), Vienna, 1975

Inscription: signed in the middle right on the edge "J.Grassi"", on the reverse- two old inscriptions  in German with names of  painter and sitter .

Technique: gouache on ivory.  Original period   frame. 

Measurements:  unframed w 2 1/8" x h 2 1/2" (5,2 x 6,3 cm), framed w  5 2/3" x h 6 1/8" ( 10 x 12 cm).

Condition: in good condition, no cracks or restorations ,   signature is partly rubbed by the edge of frame.