Miniature
1804 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of England in 1653. At his death in 1658, his son briefly took on the role. The monarchy resumed with the accession of Charles II, son of the executed king Charles I, in 1660. Charles II pursued a policy of religious and politcal tolerance.
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 II, in a papier-mâché and ormolu frame, Scotland, 1804, by Denis Brownwell Murphy. |
Physical description | Rectangular portrait miniature of Charles II, after Pieter Nason, wearing armour and a white lace cravat. 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 | Signed, dated and inscribed 'Charles 2nd &c& / from a fine picture in the / possession of Mr. Anderson - / done in Enamel by / DB Murphy / Edinbr. 1804' (On the backing paper) |
Gallery label | Charles II
1804
Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of England in
1653. At his death in 1658, his son briefly took on the role.
The monarchy resumed with the accession of Charles II
in 1660, who pursued a policy of religious and political
tolerance.
Scotland; Denis Brownell Murphy (about 1745–1842),
after Pieter Nason (1612–90)
Enamel on copper in original papier-mâché frame
with gilded copper-alloy mounts
Inscribed on backing paper ‘Charles 2nd &c&
from a fine picture in the possession of Mr. Anderson –
done in enamel by DB Murphy’
Museum no. Loan:Gilbert.237-2008(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 Pieter Nason. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of England in 1653. At his death in 1658, his son briefly took on the role. The monarchy resumed with the accession of Charles II, son of the executed king Charles I, in 1660. Charles II pursued a policy of religious and politcal tolerance. 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. 42D, pp. 89-92. ISBN 0856675334. |
Other numbers |
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Collection | |
Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.237-2008 |
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Record created | June 26, 2008 |
Record URL |
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