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Portrait of an unknown man in armour

Portrait Miniature
ca. 1715 (painted)
Artist/Maker

In its strict sense, the word ‘miniature’ describes a technique of painting in watercolour rather than the size of a painting. Miniature painting developed as a separate art in the 16th century and in Britain it became predominantly a portrait art. In Continental Europe, however, the taste for portraits small enough to be carried on the person was often met by artists working within very different artistic traditions. One type of ‘miniature’ (as all such small works are now known), produced more on the Continent than in Britain, was the oil miniature, usually painted on metal. This example is on copper. Most of these oil miniatures, like this one, are anonymous, since the art of painting small portraits in oil on metal was not one in which leading artists specialised. More often it was part of a repertoire of portrait styles offered by less well-known oil painters. One problem with oil miniatures, which probably became apparent quite quickly, is that the varnish often discolours, which results in a darkened effect, as seen in this oil miniature.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePortrait of an unknown man in armour (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Oil on copper
Brief description
Anonymous oil on copper portrait miniature of an unknown man in armour. Continental, ca. 1715.
Physical description
Oil miniature portrait of an unknown man in armour, oil on copper.
Dimensions
  • Height: 1.9375in
  • Width: 1.5625in
Subjects depicted
Summary
In its strict sense, the word ‘miniature’ describes a technique of painting in watercolour rather than the size of a painting. Miniature painting developed as a separate art in the 16th century and in Britain it became predominantly a portrait art. In Continental Europe, however, the taste for portraits small enough to be carried on the person was often met by artists working within very different artistic traditions. One type of ‘miniature’ (as all such small works are now known), produced more on the Continent than in Britain, was the oil miniature, usually painted on metal. This example is on copper. Most of these oil miniatures, like this one, are anonymous, since the art of painting small portraits in oil on metal was not one in which leading artists specialised. More often it was part of a repertoire of portrait styles offered by less well-known oil painters. One problem with oil miniatures, which probably became apparent quite quickly, is that the varnish often discolours, which results in a darkened effect, as seen in this oil miniature.
Bibliographic reference
The full text of the record is as follows: 'ANONYMOUS: Continental School, 18th century Miniature portrait of a man in armour, c.1715. Oil on copper. Oval. P.36-1942 Transferred from the British Museum'
Collection
Accession number
P.36-1942

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
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