French school late 17th - early 18th centuries Oval miniature painted on a tortoiseshell background (tortoise eretmochelys imbricata), depicting a young nobleman in three-quarter view, wearing a gray lace pourpoint, in front of scarlet draperies. Set in a gilded brass frame with foliage and flowers, surrounded by a rectangular velvet frame with pink fabric on the back (miniature in very good condition; frame added, wear to rectangular frame and tears/stains to back fabric). Dim. miniature and brass frame: 12.4 x 9.8 cm Total dimensions: 20 x 16.5 cm

Composed of several subsidiaries, the Drouot Group is a major player in the art market. Hôtel Drouot, located in the heart of Paris, has been the world's largest public auction center since 1852. 15 salerooms are available to more than 70 auction houses. The emulation generated by an annual offer of 230,000 artworks from 21 major specialities - from Antiquity to street art - attracts some 3,000 visitors every day. The Group's digital platform, Drouot.com, offers digital sales - Live auctions (live broadcasting and participation in auctions), Online-only auctions (dematerialised auctions) and Buy Now sales (sales of lots at fixed prices). Nearly 2 million items are offered annually by 600 auction houses. Auction news is reported every week in La Gazette Drouot, the leading weekly magazine for the art market and culture published by Auctionspress.