Lot 17: Daniel Gardelle (Swiss, 1679-1753) and Robert Gardelle (Swiss, 1682-1766) A rare portrait of a Gentleman, wearing blue coat with gold border and buttons, white lace cravat and red cloak, his curled wig worn long and powdered

A rare portrait of a Gentleman, wearing blue coat with gold border and buttons, white lace cravat and red cloak, his curled wig worn long and powdered.
Enamel, signed on the counter-enamel and dated Freres. Gardelle,/ pinxit 1729:, set into the base of a shagreen travelling case decorated with a rosette of brass studs.
Oval, 55mm (2 3/16in) high

The present lot is a rare example of a work by the Gardelle Brothers, showing that like several other Genevan enamellists at this period, such as the Huard Brothers and the Mussard Brothers, Daniel and Robert Gardelle produced collaborative works. A similarly signed enamel, thought at the time to be unique in its signature, was sold Christie's, 28 November 2006, lot 98.

Daniel and Robert Gardelle were the grandsons of Jean Petitot and, whilst the latter is better known for having painted large-scale oil portraits, Daniel was the teacher of Jean-Etienne Liotard.