Josef Grassi (1755-1838) Miniature Potrait Of Fjbeschorz, The Berlin Court Actor

Miniature portrait of Friedrich Jonas Beschorz, the Berlin Court Theater actor by prominent Viennese miniature painter Josef (Giuseppe) Grassi (1755-1838). This masterful miniature comes from the famous collection of miniatures of Professor E.Ullmann, Vienna. This miniare dates from the beginning of the 19th century, signed in the middle on the right on the edge (although this signature is partly scratched, one can however clearly read "J.Grassi"), on the reverse - two old collector's inscriptions in German: 1. on the cover: J.Grassi (1757-1838), Miniature portrait of an actor of the court of Dresden "and 2. on the back of the miniature: J.Grassi, 1806 Dresden (in pen) and below ink: Fried.Jonas Beschorz, born 1767, died 1841, 1790-1837-in Court Theater in Berlin.
All of these inscriptions can be seen in our photos Due to quality, style and signature / inscriptions, we are sure this is a rare portrait miniature Josef Grassi, a well-known Austro-German neoclassical portrait painter. Josef (Giuseppe) Grassi was born circa 1758 to an Italian family, who lived in Vienna in from the 17th century. In 1768, at the age of 10, he began studies at the Academy of Vienna and very quickly enjoyed great success, no especially among women, as a portrait painter, miniaturist and later as a painter of large oil portraits. In 1791 Grassi was admitted as a member of the Academy of Vienna for his portraits. Already in 1790, through, he moved to Poland. In Warsaw, on the recommendation of J.-B. Lampi, he obtained the post of painter at the court of the Polish king Stanislas August II. In 1793, on Lampi's return to Vienna, Grassi became the preferred portrait painter of the Polish court and of the upper aristocracy. 1797 was obviously the year of Grassi's first visit to Sagan Castle in Silezia (now Czech Republic). Later stays at the castle followed. The Duchess von Sagan is believed to be the person who aided Grassi in command and title of professor at the Academy (1800) in Dresden, where he taught with Anton Graff. In the following years the artist spent a year in Gotha and from 1808 to 1820 lived in Rome, enjoying great popularity. From 1821 he again lived in Dresden, leading an isolated life without a formal job. He died there in 1838.

Provenance: Collection of Prof.Dr.E. Ullmann, Vienna
Literature: Thieme / Becker "Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künsler ..", Leipzig, 1999; Prof. H. Fuchs "Austrian miniature artists" (in German), Vienna, 1975
Inscription: signed in the middle on the right on the edge "J.Grassi" ", the signature is carried by the contact with the edge of the frame; back - two old inscriptions in German with the names of the painter and the guardian
Technique: gouache on ivory Original period frame
Dimensions: unframed 5.2 x 6.3 cm, framed 10 x 12 cm
Condition : in good condition, no cracks or restorations, the signature is partly rubbed by the edge of the frame