Lot 18: Josias Barbette (Strasbourg 1657 - Copenhagen 1732)

A group of five members of a family, including husband and wife and their three sons
enamel on gold, each signed, inscribed and dated 1698, on the blue counter-enamel, gold suspension loops, all set in a fitted, tooled brown leather case
Oval, 32mm. (1 1/4ins.) high (5)

S.N.P.G., 2000-2003

von Klemperer Collection; Sotheby's, London, 16 December 1998, lot 64 (von Klemperer collection nos. 156-160, pl.2

This rare family group probably represent a prominent Danish family, as Barbette was probably working in Copenhagen in 1698. Four of the counter enamels are inscribed 'Argentinae', latin for Strasbourg, Barbette's birthplace.
It is unusual to find him signing his name J.N.Barbette. This extra 'N' is not usually recorded and can only be found in one other example, a miniature exhibited at the Burlington Fine Arts Club in 1889, case XXX, no.69.
In 1691, Barbette was appointed painter to King Christian V of Denmark.