Pendant
ca. 1610 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This jewelled and enamelled pendant contains the portrait of an unknown lady. She wears a lace ruff, and her own jewellery includes a pearl drop in her ear and in her hair, and an elaborate jewel at the back of her head.
Unlike larger portraits, miniatures tended to record a more intimate and spontaneous likeness. This was partly a consequence of the speed with which the miniature painter, or limner, had to work - painting from life and with fast-drying watercolours. It was also a reflection of the personal rather than public nature of the image - which made miniatures highly suitable for wearing within lockets.
Unlike larger portraits, miniatures tended to record a more intimate and spontaneous likeness. This was partly a consequence of the speed with which the miniature painter, or limner, had to work - painting from life and with fast-drying watercolours. It was also a reflection of the personal rather than public nature of the image - which made miniatures highly suitable for wearing within lockets.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Enamelled gold, carnelian and emeralds. Watercolour on vellum, supported by pasteboard, under glass. |
| Brief description | Gold pendant set with a miniature portrait of a woman, on the reverse a carnelian, made in Northern Europe, about 1610 |
| Physical description | Circular gold pendant set with a miniature portrait of a woman, a carnelian on the reverse. Around the edge is a border of emeralds. The suspension loop is white enamel on gold. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Dame Joan Evans |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This jewelled and enamelled pendant contains the portrait of an unknown lady. She wears a lace ruff, and her own jewellery includes a pearl drop in her ear and in her hair, and an elaborate jewel at the back of her head. Unlike larger portraits, miniatures tended to record a more intimate and spontaneous likeness. This was partly a consequence of the speed with which the miniature painter, or limner, had to work - painting from life and with fast-drying watercolours. It was also a reflection of the personal rather than public nature of the image - which made miniatures highly suitable for wearing within lockets. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.247-1975 |
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| Record created | August 9, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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