Oval portrait miniature of a lady in gilt frame, with hair locket on reverse
Size: 2 ½ h x 2 w in (3 ¼ height with clasp)
J19155
Portrait miniatures first appeared in European Royal Courts of the 16th century, particularly that of Queen Elizabeth who understood the propaganda power of miniatures. Being small, they could be given personally and on occasion in public ceremonies, as a sign of her favor. As the miniature of herself could be given unframed it was left to the receiver to provide a suitable housing to display her gift.
By the end of the 18th century the popularity of miniatures had spread outside of the Royal courts. Portrait miniature painters were set up in major cities to take advantage of the new trend. In particular, soldiers and sailors sought out having portraits made in order to leave likenesses of themselves with their loved ones while they were absent, and would also commission portraits of loved ones to take with them on their travels. This period saw portrait miniatures worn as jewellery and some would include a memento of hair sealed in the reverse. Portrait miniatures remained the most popular way of capturing a loved one’s image until the development of photography made them obsolete, with the exception of a brief period at the end of the 19th century with the establishment in 1896 of the Royal Society of Miniature Painters.
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