Henri-François RIESENER (Paris, 1767 - 1828) Portrait of two young girls, one in front, the other in profile in white dresses Watercolour and gum arabic on ivory, round form Signed and dated 'Riesener. 1800.' on the right along the frame Diameter: 7.3 cm CIC n° 2024/BE02079/CE Chased and gilded bronze frame decorated with water leaves Portrait of two young ladies in white dresses, watercolour and gum arabic on circular ivory, signed and dated, by H.-F. Riesener D.: 2.87 in. Provenance: Collection Frédéric Laeuffer, Paris ; Its sale, Paris, Hôtel Drouot, Binoche & Giquello, 30 March 2012, no. 98 (on a burr-walnut box, sold for €31,000); Pierre Jourdan-Barry Collection (1926-2016); Then by descent; Private collection, Belgium Miniatures by this portrait painter are rare, and even rarer are those signed. The finesse and originality of the composition illustrate the talent of this painter, trained by Vincent, David and also Vestier, from whom he learnt the art of miniature painting. As the son of the king's great cabinetmaker Jean-Henri Riesener, he grew up in a fertile family environment from which he was able to benefit, as well as his nephew Eugène Delacroix, whom he took into his studio for a time. Henri-François RIESENER (Paris, 1767 - 1828) Miniatures by this portrait painter are rare, and even rarer are those signed. The finesse and originality of the composition illustrate the talent of this painter, trained by Vincent, David and also Vestier, from whom he learnt the art of miniature painting. As the son of the king's great cabinetmaker Jean-Henri Riesener, he grew up in a fertile family environment from which he was able to benefit, as well as his nephew Eugène Delacroix, whom he took into his studio for a time.