Miniature portrait - portarit of an uknown young man

The portrait of this unknown man with wavy hair is a larger miniature. Based on its technique and details it can be considered the reduced version of an oil painting. It is interesting to note that the painter used a used or defective engraving plate – the delicate engravings can be seen on both the front and the back of the plate. The picture is framed in an architectural element on this part letters of an inscription of the earlier engraving can be seen, but the text cannot be read.
According to Éva Sz. Koroknay the painter of the miniature is the significant English miniature painter, Peter Crosse (1645–1742), who is also known in specialist literature as Lawrence, Luke or Lewis, due to his initials “LC”. This portrait has no markings, so the identification was based on style criticism. Following the death of the famous royal painter Samuel Cooper (1672), he became the most demanded miniature painter in London, and worked for important clients. He entered the King’s service on 7th July 1678. Just like many other miniature painters, Crosse was also keen on painting panel paintings in miniatures he primarily copied the works of Anthonis van Dyck and Peter Paul Rubens.