"Madame de X. wasn't pretty, but she was very tastefull and chosen for her portrait a painter full of genius, he surpassed himself : she became more than beautiful ! thus masterpieces are born."

Here is what could write a Art critical in 1796 salon, about this portrait signed by Augustin, solar and mysterious masterpiece of the artist.

Indeed, was it to transcend his model ? Augustin dares in this portrait, he dares and goes further :

-first he dares light, a light emanates from sitter who gives to this portrait a particular solar radiance. It seems that a wind blows on her face, in her hair, undoing tunic, chasing dark clouds far away.

-He dares color. If the crown of roses echo her lips and complexion, the whiteness of her breast, dazzled, between an orange gold and a violent purple tunic, contrasting on dark gray clouds. Everything calmed by a vibrant blue sky.

- Finally, the composition and its mysteries. A diagonal cut the miniature in half between a worrying dark cloudy sky, and a calm , bright and blue one. Which one will prevail ? In my opinion, the storm moves away, as suggested by the serene expression of Lady, and then in 1796...the worst is past and horrors of Revolution recede into the distance.

However, in the foreground of composition, the young woman wears on her arms, prominently, a bracelet of braided hair with the figure of the late Queen Marie Antoinette. Wear a MA interspersed in 1796, is not trivial. 

Storm moved away, but his memory remains.

Signed and dated on left : Augustin 1796.

This miniature is included in the catalog of the artist  by Mr Bernd Pappe.