Early 19th Century Watercolour - Two Sisters - Pair of Miniature Portraits

A beautiful example of early 19th century watercolour miniature portraits in their original rosewood frames. These two portraits, showing two young women in matching dresses, have a heartwarming history. Judging by their attire and hair, these were painted when the women were in their late teens in the 1840s. The two women are sisters, Elizabeth and Mary Stacy. Both sisters were born in the 1820s, two years apart and these portraits were clearly painted at the same time, to be a matching pair, shown by the matching dresses. While Elizabeth lived a long life (1822-1912), Mary died young (aged 44). Elizabeth clearly kept both these beautiful portraits together her whole life and passed them down through her family as the inscription on the reverse of her own portrait reads "Grannie Elizabeth Stacy." The two sisters have remained together for nearly two hundred years, through these portraits, even though they were parted early, by death.

The portraits are presented in their original rosewood veneer frames with gilt inner window and the original crown glazing. They have been inscribed on the reverse with the names and dates of the women.