BY THOMAS COMPIGNE, CIRCA 1775

The jewel-like pictures by Compigné, tabletier privilégié of Louis XV, are small miracles which mainly depict castles, town views and exotic landscapes, executed in gold, silver and various coloured varnishes on a pewter ground. Of Italian origin, Compigné was based in the Rue Grenetta at the 'Roi David', and attracted a fashionable clientèle by his precious works of art, which included caskets, games pieces, boxes and 'poignées de canne en écaille blonde incrustées de l'or'. Various gazettes published between 1766 and 1773 describe his wares as 'très beau.....', complimenting their precious and polychrome decoration.