Soiron, Jean Francois - portrait of Joseph Chinard

This miniature portrait on enamel is by Jean Francois Soiron (1756-1813) a Swiss artist who worked in Paris and was noted for his enamel portraits.

It is set into the top of a green lacquer snuff box with gold inlay (apologies for the scanner glare) and the miniature itself is only 43mm in diameter.

The counter enamel is inscribed "Chinard celebre sculpteur membre de l'Institut National de France, & de l'Athenee de Lyon. Peint en Paris par son ami Soiron de Geneva Van 1801 an 9". (Chinard, celebrated sculptor and member of the National Institute of France and the Athenum of Lyon. Painted in Paris by his good friend Soiron of Geneva in 1801, year 9).

Dating of the miniature is interesting as it is dated in both the normal calendar as 1801, and also in the French Revolutionary Calendar which commenced in 1792, thus "an 9" was 1801.

The Bourgeois miniature in this collection is also dated "an 9".

Enamel miniatures by Soiron are rare, but for another example of a miniature by him see Jean François Soiron - Museum Briner und Kern

Joseph Chinard (1756-1813) was a famous French sculptor. This miniature is believed to be the only contemporary portrait of Chinard and hence is an important historical item.

Although the image itself does not appear, this miniature of Joseph Chinard is described in the book; "Les Peintres en Miniature actifs en France 1650-1850". The reference is towards the end of the section illustrated here.

The Frick Museum describes Chinard as one of the greatest portraitists of 18C and early 19C France, see ARCHIVED PRESS RELEASE from THE FRICK COLLECTION

Acquired subsequently for this collection, was this medal of Joseph Chinard by Torcheux.

The obverse and reverse views of the medal are shown here with the obverse depicting Joseph Chinard.

The reverse depicts Chinard's famous sculpture of the Empress Josephine which is in La Malmaison.
The medal is 67mm in diameter and is signed "A H Torcheux", for Andre-Henri Torcheux (1912-?) who is shown in the photo.

Torcheux seems to have made a number of medals commemorating various prominent French citizens from the 19C and 20C.

At present the actual date and the reason for striking this medal is unknown.

A bust of the Empress Josephine was sculpted in Milan in 1805 when she accompanied Napoleon to that city for his coronation as the King of Italy.

A slightly different terracotta version, with shoulder ruffs on the dress, is currently housed in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio.

For more about Chinard, including details of his works in the Getty Museum see Joseph Chinard (Getty Museum)

Also shown here is another miniature portrait by Jean-Francois Soiron. This one of Napoleon was displayed in an exhibition at Somerset House entitled 'France in Russia : Empress Josephine's Malmaison Collection' which ran from 25 July to 4 November 2007.

The exhibition explored the history of Empress Josephine’s Malmaison collection, purchased by Alexander I in 1815 and now held by the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, Russia. 884