Young Woman in Gold with Butterfly, Verre Eglomise Miniature, c. 1830s black cow with worm trails visible across

with worm trails visible across the flattened face of the nose

But what really makes it is its fantastic surface

under glass: 4 9/16" x 3 3/8"

The backside of the frame shows that it was framed by Foster Brothers on Boylston St

Circling her around the sides of the box are a reclining nude

Young Woman in Gold with Butterfly, Verre Eglomise Miniature, c. 1830s black cow with worm trails visible acrossThis is a reverse glass painted (verre glomis) miniature engraving in original gold toned (brass I believe) frame, c. 1830s and French. One sees the lids of French patch boxes and bon bon containers executed in this manner, but this appears only to have ever been a portrait, with original papered reverse enclosed by the teeth of the frame. And with the golden butterfly at her shoulder the hinge of the painting, rationalizing the revealing concealing,