Bolognese School, circa 1570

A pair, oil on wood. Overall portraits present lovely and charming images with nice retention of details and coloration. Portrait of a Man: surface of background is lifting slightly. It appears stable for now, but should probably be addressed. Under a slightly dirty varnish. Ultraviolet reveals some tiny retouches here and there. There may be some additional retouches that have been obscured by varnish. Portrait of a Woman: Craquelure is visible in her flesh tones, but is not disturbing. Under a slightly dirty varnish. Ultraviolet reveals tiny retouches here and there. Again, there may be some additional retouches that have been obscured by varnish. Each in a carved, giltwood frame with punchwork design.
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These portraits, almost certainly intended for private use, appear to have been conceived as a pair of covered portraits.  Given the turned carved form of the verso of each (see fig. 1), they may have been made to fit together to form a carrying case that would protect the paintings inside.  Indeed, by the 16th century in northern Europe this type of painting, called the kapsel portrait, made up of two small roundels whose frames fit together face to face to form a low cylinder, was in frequent use.  In Italy, these little portraits were frequently used as box lids.