A intaglio ring,, by Brown

depicting a classical Roman portrait in profile, signed BROWN, mounted in silver, length 3.4 cm, width 2.7 cm.

Brothers William Brown (1748-1825) and Charles Brown (1749-1795) exhibited intaglios and cameos, first at the Society of Artists and later at the Royal Academy, London. Their subjects were drawn mainly from classical history and contemporary portraiture. Both brothers mostly signed their work 'BROWN'. The brothers ceased exhibiting between 1786 and 1795 when most of their work was produced on commission for the court of Catherine II of Russia. They also worked at the French court of during the reign of Louis XVI. After Charles Brown died William continued supplying the Russian court intermittently but also resumed publicly exhibiting his work.