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• Article:

  It is with great pleasure that we announce the opening of a new section dedicated to the fascinating world of the portrait miniature.
  The core of this collection comes from an important Genevan collection of miniatures from the Swiss school. As with the rest of the objects we present, we focus on pieces of high quality and, in a few cases, of museum standard. We pay attention to the provenance and to the historical importance of the miniatures, and, of course, to their quality and authenticity.

  With a particular focus on the continental miniature, of which the French, Swiss and Nordic schools are the main representatives, we offer works by the greatest artists, including Jacques Thouron, Louis-Ami Arlaud-Jurine, Pierre-Louis Bouvier and Ferdinando Quaglia.
  We also keep representations of historical importance, like the portrait of the enlightened ruler Ferdinando III, grand duke of Tuscany. In the military sphere, a portrait of note is a psychologically powerful image of the count of Rastignac; not dressed in his official uniform. He was identified by Dr. Dimitri Gorchkoff, an expert in Military subject with whom we have the honour of collaborating. This miniature will soon be published in La Revue des Amis de Musée de l’Armée de Paris.
  Furthermore, we guarantee the purchase of authentic works whose state of conservation is clearly shown. When necessary, the miniatures were cleaned by Dr. Bernd Pappe, art historian and conservator of collections at the Louvre, the Musée Condé, Tansey Miniatures Foundation, one of the few artists qualified to deal with the restoration of these delicate objects.

  Currently, we believe that miniatures of the Swiss school are of particular interest to investors. Whilst the English school remains highly priced due to a blooming internal market, prices for the Swiss school have fallen to their lowest levels on record, and have therefore lost all relation to the true artistic value of the pieces. In this field, our confidence is also boosted both by a new enthusiasm for collecting art in Russia (following research into works by European artists who worked in Russia) and, in a more general sense, by the international market, which - in its inexhaustible growth - is always looking for new areas of investment.