In early days of the Grand Project, I came across some portrait miniatures of some descendants of Moses Tryon through his eldest daughter Elizabeth.  It occurred to me that as I searched for portraits of some of my officers, I might also look into the possibility of portrait miniatures.  Alas, in almost all cases, while the signature of the painter might be seen on surviving pieces, almost never is the subject featured in the piece actually named thereon, and the person is known by family oral tradition.  Still, I found the pieces of interest, and I began collecting them.  Faces of those long gone but relevant to the late 18th and turn of the 19th centuries.  I periodically will pick up one here and there and give them a good home.  The following is, therefore, something of a museum, with each piece accompanied by what little information I had been able to glean.  These often come from private estate sales, and while I can cite the state or region the piece came from, the seller has no further information to impart; how very sad.

A few of these are not in my own private collection, but I will state this with the specific piece.  In those cases, I find some interesting social tidbit I want to share, and will try to link to the home citation.

A period sea captain. 

I picked this piece up at one point with the mildest of fancies that it could be one of “my people”.  It appears to be just as the seller said; a sea captain or ship’s master and dated to around 1800, give or take.  I might say that it could be a more into the 18-aughts and 1810s.  No indication to me of that being a Naval coat.  It is painted on an ivory disc but lacks glass and a backing, so I keep this in a small box for protection until such time that I pick up a replacement crystal for the front.

An English Maid.

I picked this lovely lady up fairly recently from the owner in Spain.  It is British, thought to be English specifically, and dates to about 1785.  It is a watercolour and might be painted on paper… I am reluctant to peel up the back as it is firmly attached, but may do so in the near future.  The frame is “ebonized” with an oak/acorn frame and thought to be original to the portrait.