Neither the painter nor the subject is known of this early 19th century, small, original watercolor portrait. It came from a Richmond, Va. estate that featured several antique portraits of about this age.
My estimate is that this dates to around 1830-40. It depicts a slender and elegant, upper class young man in a black, 3-piece suit with silk cravat, and a white shirt with a standing collar and pleated bib front, and with blue stud buttons that match his blue eyes. A gold chain can be seen extending from the center of his vest to his pocket.
He's seated, formally posed in a Regency era chair, his long fingered, manicured hands resting on his lap.
It's such a sensitive and beautifully rendered portrait, done on on laid paper.
And it's in an interesting frame. The front of the frame is an embossed metal layer applied over wood. I can't tell if the metal is gilded, with most of it worn away, of if it's brass with a glaze or patina finish. The wood on the sides of the frame was originally painted gold, but most of that is gone now. You can still see traces of it.
For hanging, there's a brass ring attached to the top.
The wavy glass is likely original to the painting and the frame. It has a short (1/4" long) scratch that may be seen in my photos in the area of the young man's left side, near his inner elbow.
Frame measures: 6.75" x 8" (not including the brass hanger on top)
Weighs about 8 oz.