Round Box, Young Girl Holding A Sword, After Chaudet, First Empire, Early 19th Century

A masterpiece of Neoclassical painting right in the palm of your hand—that is what this delicate circular box from the early 19th century offers, its lid adorned with a miniature based on the painting by Jeanne-Élisabeth Chaudet (1767–1832), *Young Girl Holding Her Father’s Sword* (1816, oil on canvas, Farida and Henri Seydoux Collection), which was exhibited at the 1817 Salon.

The object is striking for its fidelity to the painting and the exceptional finesse of its craftsmanship; while the painting in the Seydoux Collection measures 73.5 x 60.5 cm, this piece is only 6 cm in diameter, yet it in no way compromises the details or the skin tones of its illustrious model.

Jeanne-Élisabeth Chaudet, née Gabiou and related to the Lemoine family of female artists (she was the cousin of Marie-Victoire, Marie-Élisabeth, and Marie-Denise, who distinguished themselves particularly in the portrait genre during the reign of Louis XVI, then under the Directory, the Consulate, and the Empire), painted this lovely portrait in 1816, in the style of works in vogue during the First Empire, depicting a young girl playing with her father’s saber (which has been identified as a staff officer’s saber, 1803 model), a charming depiction—as playful as it is parodic—of the martial virtues so heavily flaunted at the time by the generals and marshals of the Empire, under a regime then in a state of perpetual war.

The miniature is traditionally framed by a brass band, adorning the lid of this small box (pill box, snuffbox, etc.), which is otherwise made of tortoiseshell. Note, as best documented in the photo, some minor chips, particularly on the lower part. 

A miniature with a similar subject was offered for sale at the Osenat auction on February 1, 2004 (lot 604), signed by Louis-François Aubry, with an estimate of €4,000–5,000.

The painted subject, in addition to being extremely charming, is in remarkable condition. There are no chips or flaking. The object can reasonably be dated to the 1820s, based on its style and taking into account the date of the original painting.