Double Sided Frederick Buck Miniature c1800
Directory: Fine Art: Paintings: Miniatures: Pre 1800: Item # 1362925
Please refer to our stock # a1613 when inquiring.
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An unusual double sided miniature by Frederick Buck. One side is painted using watercolors on ivory, and shows a young man with an upswept hair style, dressed in the usual black coat and white stock of the period. The reverse of the case shows an older man in profile, also in a black coat and white stock, but limned in watercolor on card. The paintings were probably done at somewhat different times, and then framed together.
The condition of the full face painting is excellent, with no issues. The profile painting does show the slight wear that watercolors on card often exhibit but is still in quite good condition. The gold case has no problems and is 2 1/2" by 2 1/8".
BIOGRAPHCAL NOTE: Frederick Buck, the younger brother of Adam Buck, was born in Cork in 1771, where he had a thriving practice as a miniaturist for an extended period. During the Peninsular War (1808 - 1814), when Cork was a busy port of embarkation of troops, Buck had so many orders for portraits of officers and others going to the war that he kept a supply of partly-painted ivories to which he added the heads and the regimental facings, especially needed when his customers gave him hurried sittings. Consequently, examples of this type of Buck's work are not uncommon. Buck was successful enough in his profession that he was able to retire some years before his death, which took place in 1839 or 1840. Examples of his work are in the V & A Museum.
