Portrait of a Woman 1785 - 1793

This miniature portrait by the French artist Villers, depicts a woman in an elegant blue dress and a white shawl. The small, oval-shaped painting, measuring 2 3/8 x 1 7/8 inches, was created sometime between 1785 and 1793, shortly before the artist's death at age 12. The exquisite detail and delicate brushstrokes are typical of the miniature portrait genre, popular during the 18th century. The painting is now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection in New York City.