Featured Identification: Large Hand Painted Victorian Brooch

Russian. It could be romanian as well

 

Just saw this & of course thought of you immediately: http://www.ebay.com/itm/352183738913

 

Nice image! I have some of that sort of theatrical advertising postcard. I like the pose.

 

What was his name? Sounds interesting.

 

This guy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurence_Shirley,_4th_Earl_Ferrers
For the details of the execution: https://justcriminals.info/2016/11/12/laurence-shirley-fourth-earl-ferrers-1760/
Quite the character. The gem engraver I believe made my paste cameo of Mary Meredith is recorded as having exhibited a paste 'model for a gem' of Mrs. Siddons, along with a drawing of Mr. Siddons, at the Royal Academy.

 

Tacking this on as a cross-reference, posts 1224 & 1225:

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/cameos-show-tell-or-ask-answer.23493/page-62#post-523837

Another photo of actress Mary Anderson translated to a porcelain miniature & set as a brooch. Guessing now that the necklace in OP's piece was turned to coral either because painter could not tell what it was supposed to be from B&W photo or just made an artistic choice.

 

This has to be one of my most favorite identifications, ever. EVER.

 

Seriously impressive. Shows it never hurts to ask - you might actually get an answer.