Sophie Clavona (Constantinople 1765/1766 - 1822 Berlin), originally a Greek slave, was purchased by the Russian General de Witte, who made her his mistress, but very shortly afterwards, he lost a very considerable sum of money at cards when playing against the Polish Count Felix Potocki, who offered to waive his entire claim if the Russian General would pass over his Greek slave to him. The terms were accepted, and Count Felix promptly made her his second wife, despite the postulations of his friends, and they lived happily together for many years. Among the admirers of Countess Potocki's stunning beauty was King Frederick-William III of Prussia (see lot 104).
The most celebrated painters of the late 18th Century as Kucharski and Grassi wanted the Countess to sit for her portrait, and it comes as no surprise that the Russian court-painter Ritt painted her likeness, too. Nowadays, the former attribution of this miniature to Hall has to be rejected as it bears all characteristics of Ritt's style and technique, particularly in the use of thick gouache, the bold white highlighting in the flesh and lace parts, and the nearly revolutionary free and broad brushstroke.