Pair of miniature portraits, evidently of an Orthodox husband and wife, very finely painted and encassed behind glass.

(PORTRAITS)

Central Europe, early 19th-century

Watercolor on ivory within chased gold and cut-glass matching octagonal frames.

Most uncommon finely painted pair of portraits of an observant husband and wife of a classic, traditional appearance. This distinguished couple - as yet unidentified - have a noble appearance and are attired in traditional dress. The lady wears the classic garb of a well-to-do, Orthodox, Aschkenazic woman. Particularly characteristic is her head-covering, featuring the sterntichel customarily worn by Central and East European Jewish women on the Sabbath and Festivals. Her husband has a tall yarmulke skullcap upon his head. He wears a long beard as expected of the Othodox, but it is here neatly combed and his moustache trimmed. Peeking beneath his formal frock-coat appears a white cravat. The artist is unidentified, yet his work is clearly of the highest standards. Needless to say the man and his wife were people of means in order to commission a fine artist to paint their portraits.