An Unknown man

In France, it was not until the 1770s that a notable school of portrait miniaturists emerged. It was only then that they were able to rival English ones, such as Richard Cosway (1742-1821) and John Smart (1742-1811). Like Cosway and Smart, these French artists worked in watercolour on ivory. Ivory had been introduced in place of vellum in the early 18th century by Rosalba Carriera (1675-1757), a Venetian artist. The use of this new support developed in distinct ways in England and on the Continent.

This miniature is by Augustin Ritt, who was born in St Petersburg in 1765. His father was German and was a first violinist in the orchestra at the Russian court in St Petersburg. Ritt studied in Antwerp from 1781 until 1785 and then went to Paris. His miniature style shows French influence and confidence. In 1792 he returned to St Petersburg where he had his greatest success, becoming court miniaturist and a member of the Academy. He was one of the greatest miniaturists of his period, and is placed in the same class as Pierre Adolphe Hall. He died in St Petersburg in 1799.