EXQUISITE BRUSH WORK.

Before the sixth plate had a new archival seal I peered at the ornamental rose and rambling vine on the gent’s shirt front and thought, “My, what an intricate piece of jewelry.” Once I saw the naked surface I used a loupe and much to my surprise realized that the object was an artist’s interpretation of an example he must have seen elsewhere. Could the gent’s maker have been multi-talented, since the dag has wonderful tonality and great reflected depth? The fellow laid one arm across a large book and tugged at his lapel with his hand. Clear eyes narrowed while he watched his countenance being transferred onto the silvery receptacle that has specks, flecks, mat marks and patina. His face and hands were tinted. That line on his head doesn’t seem to be a scratch. The leather case is apart and very worn with pieces of leather missing on the reverse.