Salomon-Guillaume Counis was a Swiss-born enameller, painter and lithographer and is considered one of the best enamel painters of his time. Around 1800, he began his training as an enameller in Geneva. He moved to Paris in 1806, where he worked in the studio of Anne-Louis Girodet. In 1810, Elisa Bonaparte, Napoleon's sister and Grand Duchess of Tuscany, wooed him away to Florence, where he was appointed court enamel miniaturist in 1811. After the fall of Napoleon, Counis moved back to Geneva and, two years later, settled again in Paris. Among his Parisian clients was King Louis XVIII. From 1830, Counis lived in Florence until his death. His works were awarded gold medals at the Paris Salon in 1812 and 1817.