Tag Archives: painted

Dannielle Blackledge, Junior Cataloguer from the Antiques & Fine Art Department at Fellows, has been discussing portrait miniatures ahead of the upcoming auction. The Antiques, Silver & Collectables sale takes place on Monday 16th September. Looking to start your antiques collection but don’t know where to begin? The possibilities are vast, from glass and ceramics, to collector’s items, silver, paintings, clocks and furniture, the choice can feel overwhelming. An area to consider is portrait miniatures perhaps? Fellows’ upcoming Antiques, Silver & Collectables auction offers thirty lots of silhouettes and portrait miniatures at reasonable prices, ideal for those looking to start a collection. And the good news is that the market for miniatures remains strong. Amongst the lots on offer on September 16th are some wonderful 19th century examples of fashionable ladies, in particular Lot 851 and Lot 852, as well as an interesting marital duo depicting a Captain and his wife, Lot 857. A 19th century painted portrait miniature on ivory Whilst the aesthetic appeal of these carefully executed and detailed portraits is undeniable, portrait miniatures also have a deeper appeal to collectors as objects with rich personal histories. Why were they painted? Who was the sitter? The artist? The patron? Unfortunately the answers to the latter three questions remain much harder to answer, but we are able to appreciate why miniatures were produced, and why they became so popular. In their familiar form some of the earliest portrait miniatures were seen at both the French and English Royal courts from as early as 1520. Although their exact origins are believed to derive from the illustrations in illuminated manuscripts; and indeed the very term ‘miniatures’ is not related to size as one might think, but rather stems from the Latin word ‘munium’, a name for the red lead used in illustrated Medieval works. Predominantly the preserve of the elite in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries, the popularity of portrait miniatures grew considerably during the 18th century. During this period of significant social transformation the elite and aspiring proved to be enthusiastic patrons of miniature artists eager to establish their trade, whilst the cities of London, Dublin and the popular Spa town of Bath provided the perfect climate in which the art form could flourish and prosper. Dannielle Blackledge, Junior Cataloguer from the Antiques & Fine Art Department at Fellows Auctioneers. Due to their size and portability portrait miniatures could easily be passed around in social circles and the sitter and artist’s hand admired, and as a result of these social conditions and developments in skill, technique and materials, portrait miniatures entered a ‘Golden Age’ during the second half of the century. In response to demand silhouettes or profiles as they were known emerged as a cheap and quick alternative to painted portrait miniatures. Sittings could take as little as five minutes and copies could be easily produced, making small commemorative portraits far more accessible for a larger portion of society. Miniatures were commissioned for a variety of reasons, they could be offered as diplomatic gifts, sentimental souvenirs, or mementos to commemorate milestones including births and deaths. And although their size meant that miniatures could be easily transferred and admired, they were often considered extremely personal and private objects, sometimes seen by only the painter, the sitter and the patron. Their size and portability also allowed miniatures to function as the perfect discrete accessory, examples depicting secret lovers or mistresses were able to be hidden away in lockets or bracelets, or even concealed in the pocket watches of gentlemen. Whilst for those less brazen the eye miniature or lovers eye was developed, a miniature depicting only the sitter’s eye to help maintain anonymity. As an area of collecting, silhouettes and in particular portrait miniatures offer the buyer the opportunity to own a tangible piece of history and a once treasured and admired possession.