18th French Miniature Portrait Painting Ivory Dog Child Nattier

Painting is approx. 3 by 4 inches and framed it is approx.9 by 10 inches.

Back is marked Le petite Fille ? Louis XV par Nattier. Musee de Versailles B. de Tocqury

Young girl beautifully dressed in a full lacy dress with light blue trim and sash and matching lace cap. Her chubby left hand is touching her dog at her side.

Superbly painted with her hands dimpled as well as her chin. She sits upon a royal blue pillow trimmed in gold fleur de lis. Background is quite wonderful with a gold drape over a green panel or column. That leads to a red curtain and then the outside. Quite a unique perspective.

I am not quite sure how to interpret the back. I think it is saying it is a daughter of Louis XV by the painter Jean Marc Nattier at Versailles. A miniature copy of the original painting? ...though Nattier's mother Marie Courtois Nattier was a reknown Miniature Painter. It also lists B. de Tocqury....Nattier daughter was a Madame Tocqu.

Contemporary frame....though portrait gilt frame and old glass seems to be original.

Condition is exceptional with strong colors and no chips or cracks to ivory.

Rare and fantastic. For the Sophisticated Collector