Masterfully miniature of a lady, in blue dress , a brown shawl draped over her right shoulder.It was executed in 1803 by famous French miniature painter Jean-Baptiste Couvelet (1772 Charleville - 1830 Mezieres). Son of Louis Couvelet, tailor of clothes, and Jeanne Françoise Chayaux. Jean Baptiste Couvelet grows to Charleville where he studied at the city college. We don´t know with certainty whether or not he was the pupil of Jacques-Louis David. While Baudson and Labaste monographs are in the treatment of the classic and "purity of drawing" a certain kinship between the two painters, Bernadette Chaignet-Sortais think he has rather worked with students from David . In Paris, Couvelet acquainted with Ponce Lambert. The two men develop their talent of miniaturists.

Completed his studies, Couvelet returns in the Ardennes where he married Marguerite Adelaide Colson on April 26, 1795. The couple has five children including Adolphe - Hippolyte Couveley and Adelaide who marries Désiré Auguste Lambert, son of Ponce. Appointed Professor of drawing of the Central School of Charleville April 4, 1798, Couvelet leads to both his career of painter and teacher, performing a very large number of miniatures and portraits including that of the then Director general Morin of the manufacture of weapons of Charleville. In 1815, he is appointed Deputy to the Finance Committee of the Charleville then occupied by Prussian troops . Couvelet died at his home of Mézières in 1830. The first known miniature of Couvelet is dated 1795 and for title. The man in Blue Coat says Portrait of Couthon. The Museum of the Ardennes retains a number of paintings by Couvelet.

The man in blue said Portrait of Couthon, 1795. Young woman at the harpsichord, 1796. Portrait of Adèle Lefranc baby, 1805. Young woman showing her child in a crib, 1806.Portrait of lieutenant general Dumonceau Jean-Baptiste, 1807, preserved at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam [8].Two portraits of young women, 1808.Portrait of general Morin, around 1813 [9], copy kept at the Museum of the Ardennes.The chevalier Bayard, 1814. Portrait of Abbé Delvincourt, 1826, preserved at the Museum of the Ardennes.

Literature: E. Benezit " Dictionary of painters, sculptors, decorators and etchers"(in French), Paris, 1999; Thieme/Becker, Leipzig,1999.

Inscription: signed and dated in French lower right on the edge: " à Givelet (in English translation: dedicated "to Givelet "), J.B-st Couvelet, 1803".

Technique: gouache on ivory, original lacque wood frame with inner bronze oval.

Measurements: unframed w2 1/3" x h 3"(6 x 7,7 cm), framed w 5" x 5 3/4" (12,8 x 14,5 cm).

Condition: in very good condition.