after Sir Joshua Reynolds - Madonna and Child (Lady Searsdale) -18th/19th century reverse glass painting

A stunning antique eglomise/ reverse glass painting after Sir Joshua Reynolds, from the late 18th/ first half of 19th century. A beautiful work depicting Lady Searsdale and her son in a traditional Madonna and Jesus pose, with the lady wearing simple cloths and a headscarf, clutching her boy with affection. The whereabouts of the original painting by Reynolds are not known, only in the form of an engraving.
An exceptionally fine work with beautiful details, the finest eglomise painting I have ever come across. Note how beautifully the shading of the face is done with incredibly fine brushstrokes. Because it was painted on a transparent piece of glass, the back also shows the same image, though in a very different form. It was not intended to be seen, but it reveals the complexity and difficulty of the reverse glass painting technique.
A true little masterpiece with exceptional presence.

19.3 X 17.4 cm framed
14.3 1x 12.6 cm

Overall, very good condition with small losses, beautifully framed in its original hardwood frame; the frame has a few old wormholes (not active). A work with exceptional quality and charm.