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on a carved gilt-wood table with marble, facing right in white dress with long blue sash, lace-bordered blue cuffs, white fichu scarf tied at corsage adorned with a posy of flowers, powdered curling hair, seated in a green upholstered gilt-wood chair, a basket of flowers beside her, gilt metal frame with stylised acanthus border Christie's London. An excellent price for a good miniature by Campana though the sitter was not really beautiful. This miniature carried a pre-sale estimate of between £ 3,500 and 4,500. Campana first worked as a miniaturist in Turin before settling in 1774 in Paris where he quickly discovered how to establish himself in the court. He became official painter to Marie-Antoinette, of whom he did several portraits. His technique was that of a “pointilliste” (using dots) and he used very little gouache even for the clothes and hair. On the other side he mixed his colours with gum, an English process. He was a very good artist although questionable regarding a certain stiffness in the pose of his models and for his too conventional way of painting hands. Though rarely signed his miniatures are easily recognisable. |
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