Help with Writing on Miniature Portrait

[KC]

I second that "WOW" cogar!  What a process! 

[mart]

When I enlarged that last pic,,of course you lose some detail,, but the more I look at it the more it does look like  a photo !!  Especially the eyes !!  You should be able to see some brush strokes on the face but I can`t see any !! Just highlights and shadows that are enhanced,,cheeks & lips touched up ect !! 

[Mat]

Thank you mart, yes, you ate right, especially the nose looks more like a photo...

[Ipcress]

That's what i was looking at, Mat. The hair and face lacks any sign of brush strokes other than the " hightened white ". The ears...it just has the appearance of a touched up photo.

The very fine grooves and swirls in ivory can make watercolours appear different over time and i've seen some incredible miniatures where you couldn't spot a brushstroke unless you used a magnifying glass.

Here's an example :


However, this one, with that heightened white...

Plus the word " studio ". Always used in relation to photography back in the day and rarely just artwork.

[Mat]

Thank you, that is a great one, Ipcress!
Mat

[Tanya]

Thank you both! I have posted this in other places, too, and I think so far the reading is sure for "Miniature by Florence ??, Ashen Croft studio, Ilkley, Yorks(hire), just the last name of the artist still remains a mystery. I have searched, but no miniature painter from Ilkley turned up so far...

I thought it looks like:

Miniature by Florence Honeille
Asken Groff Studio
Glenley, York

Or something like that.

[SophieMarie]

Okay, so when I glanced at the signature, I thought I saw an Italian name in there somewhere!  But, having lived in Italy a bit, I do that from time to time (yes, it sounds unusual)...Oh and perhaps an amersand

So for the heck of it...I tried Florence Casartelli.  And, the following search result appeared:
http://www.cartedevisite.co.uk/studios/england/

The link has information of photographers from Great Britain and Ireland from 1840-1940.  There is a Croft Studio listed as well as an Ashton.

As far as photographers in England, there are two which caught my eye:  Florence Cary and J. Casartelli.  So maybe there was some extra curricular activity going on in the workplace and the two photographers hooked up!  Based on this speculation, I believe the miniature is perhaps by Florence & J Casartelli. 

The photography site does offer research options, but they only accept PayPal if you have an interest to investigate the miniature on ivory a bit more! 

[Mat]

SophieMarie, thank you so much for researching this for me! The idea of the Italian name is interesting, but I think I found the actual photographer's name on the page you gave me in the link! In the list of photographers appears the name Horsnaille, Florence, and I think this must be the one!
Mat

[Mat]

I found her in another document: "Florence Horsnaill
2,39
 was born on 15 Feb 1872 in Dover, Kent and died Q2 1954 in Redruth, Cornwall.
Basic notes:
She worked as a Photographic artist and Miniature painter.   She was living in 1911 in 54 The Grove, Ilkley, Yorkshire."

http://www.pennyghael.org.uk/Horsnaill.pdf

Thank you again, you helped me very much to solve the mystery!

[Mat]

In 1906 she lived in another place, Folkestone near Dover, so this portrait has to be later than that...

[mart]

Another brownie point for SophieMarie !!  Excellent research !!

[SophieMarie]

Glad you found it Mat!  And, Mart, please throw chocolate instead of brownie points ha!

[mart]

Ahhh !!  Now I know your weak point,,chocolate !!