Miniature
1804 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The reign of Charles I (ruled 1625-49) was marred by disputes and unrest between the King and Parliament. The civil wars that followed led to the execution of the King in 1649. Oliver Cromwell subsequently became Lord Protector of England.
In the 17th century, new techniques of painting enamels allowed delicate portraits resembling tiny oil paintings to be created. These enamel miniatures were first fashionable in continental Europe, but were particularly in vogue in Britain from the 1720s to 1760s. Denis Brownell Murphy was born in Dublin around 1745. During his long career he worked in both England and Scotland. Brownell Murphy painted a set of enamel miniatures in Scotland in 1804, taking as his source portraits which were in Scottish collections at the time. He chose images illustrating the lineage of the House of Stuart, beginning with Mary Queen of Scots.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
In the 17th century, new techniques of painting enamels allowed delicate portraits resembling tiny oil paintings to be created. These enamel miniatures were first fashionable in continental Europe, but were particularly in vogue in Britain from the 1720s to 1760s. Denis Brownell Murphy was born in Dublin around 1745. During his long career he worked in both England and Scotland. Brownell Murphy painted a set of enamel miniatures in Scotland in 1804, taking as his source portraits which were in Scottish collections at the time. He chose images illustrating the lineage of the House of Stuart, beginning with Mary Queen of Scots.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Enamel on copper, papier-mâché and ormolu frame |
| Brief description | Enamel miniature on copper of Charles I, in a papier-mâché and ormolu frame, Scotland, 1804, by Denis Brownwell Murphy. |
| Physical description | Rectangular portrait miniature of Charles I in a grey striped doublet with a white lace collar, wearing the blue sash and star of the Order of the Garter. The miniature is enamel on copper and the frame is papier-mâché with ormolu mounts in the shape of shells and a crown. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Inscribed 'Charles I / from the original by van Dyke' (On the backing paper) |
| Gallery label | Charles I
1804
The reign of Charles I (ruled 1625–49) was marred by
disputes and unrest between the king and parliament.
The civil wars that followed led to the execution of the
king in 1649. Oliver Cromwell subsequently became
Lord Protector of England.
Scotland; Denis Brownell Murphy (about 1745–1842),
after Anthony van Dyck (1599–1641)
Enamel on copper in original papier-mâché frame
with gilded copper-alloy mounts
Inscribed on backing paper ‘Charles I
from the original by van Dyke’
Museum no. Loan:Gilbert.236-2008(2009) |
| Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
| Object history | Provenance: Johnson, Walker and Tolhurst, London, 1979. |
| Production | Portrait after Anthony van Dyck. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The reign of Charles I (ruled 1625-49) was marred by disputes and unrest between the King and Parliament. The civil wars that followed led to the execution of the King in 1649. Oliver Cromwell subsequently became Lord Protector of England. In the 17th century, new techniques of painting enamels allowed delicate portraits resembling tiny oil paintings to be created. These enamel miniatures were first fashionable in continental Europe, but were particularly in vogue in Britain from the 1720s to 1760s. Denis Brownell Murphy was born in Dublin around 1745. During his long career he worked in both England and Scotland. Brownell Murphy painted a set of enamel miniatures in Scotland in 1804, taking as his source portraits which were in Scottish collections at the time. He chose images illustrating the lineage of the House of Stuart, beginning with Mary Queen of Scots. Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996. |
| Bibliographic reference | Coffin, Sarah and Bodo Hofstetter. Portrait Miniatures in Enamel. London: Philip Wilson Publishers Ltd. in association with the Gilbert Collection, 2000. 168 p., ill. Cat. no. 42C, pp. 89-92. ISBN 0856675334. |
| Other numbers |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.236-2008 |
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| Record created | June 26, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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