Mournful Woman in White, Damaged But Marvelous Early Portrait Miniature Box practice sampler with losses on reverse side

with losses on reverse side detailed

with minor toning and light edge wear

especially that blue bow around the tugging dog's neck and the little girl's flailing arms and plaid stockings

The whole thing was constructed of three pieces of wood--two pieces on the face and then a third piece across the back

The pink-red decoration on this one comes from Ben Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanack (there were a whole series of these illustrating different "maxims")

Mournful Woman in White, Damaged But Marvelous Early Portrait Miniature Box practice sampler with losses on reverse sideHER! I purchased this from an auction right near me in Gloucester, MA; I actually don't buy much at auctions but I became am obsessed with her. Look closely and there is an urn partially visible to her right, which combined with everything else about her, really certainly seems to indicate that our young subject is in mourning. And, painted on a box carved of ivory, perhaps she mourns a young husband lost at sea. I believe American, very late 18th