Double-sided oval miniature in watercolour on ivory, in a gilt metal oval suspension frame.

On the recto the sitter is shown in long bust-length, facing the viewer but with her head and gaze turned to her right. She wears a high-waisted decollete white gown, with a cameo or similar pendant on the narrow blue belt of the waist, and a black choker. She has powdered curled hair bound with a white fillet on top and brown eyes. The costume date is likely to be around 1800 and no later than 1805, so - on age grounds alone - the traditional identification of the sitter as Horatia Nelson (who was only born in January 1801) cannot be correct even if the attribution to Holmes is: both date back to at least 1889.

The verso shows a more visually striking miniature of a brown-haired young woman with grey eyes, shown head and shoulders turned to her left but facing out to the viewer, against a slate-grey background. She is shown in mourning, wearing a black gown with a white shawl neck and a broad black headband. It is probably not by Holmes and slightly later than the other, about 1805-10, though both sitters are presumably connected.

This item's history is unknown until 1889, when it was in the collection of Edward Joseph. He sold it in 1890, when it passed via Agnew's to J. Pierpont Morgan. It was purchased for the Museum by Sir James Caird at the Pierpont Morgan sale of 24 June 1935 at Christie's (lot 347; £33-1s): MNT0192, of Robert Blake, was also acquired at this sale. The 'NW' marking on the reverse of the frame, suggesting it is from the Nelson-Ward collection, is an old Museum error: though lacking the NW marking it is the Museum's copy (MNT0041) which is from that source. This copy was probably made when the original was in Joseph's collection, and may be related to a catalogue he published.

James Holmes (1777-1860) originally trained as an engraver but subsequently became a watercolour painter and a succesful London miniaturist. He was a member of the Society of Watercolour Painters, and also a founder member of the Society of British Artists and its president in 1829.