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Miniature

1804 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

James II (ruled 1685-88), of the House of Stuart, was a staunch Roman Catholic whose religious views clashed with those of his parliament. Many in England and Scotland supported James' son-in-law, the Dutch Protestant Prince, William of Orange, who invaded England in 1688. James was defeated and lived out his life in exile in France.

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.
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Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Enamel on copper, papier mâché and ormolu frame
Brief description
Enamel miniature on copper of James II, in a papier mâché and ormolu frame, Scotland, 1804, by Denis Brownwell Murphy.
Physical description
Rectangular portrait miniature of James II, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, 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
  • Depth: 1.74cm
  • Height: 17.8cm
  • Width: 14.65cm
Updated with measurements taken 02/09/08.
Marks and inscriptions
'James 2nd &c / from an excellent original / in Holyrood Palace by / Sir Godfrey Kneller - / painted in Enamel by / DB Murphy / Edinb 1804'
Gallery label
James II 1804 James II (ruled 1685–88) was a staunch Roman Catholic whose religious views clashed with those of his parliament. Many in England and Scotland supported James’s son-in-law, the Dutch Protestant prince, William of Orange, who invaded England in 1688. James was defeated and lived out his life in exile in France. Scotland; Denis Brownell Murphy (about 1745–1842), after Godfrey Kneller (1646–1723) Enamel on copper in original papier-mâché frame with gilded copper-alloy mounts Inscribed on backing paper ‘James 2nd &c from an excellent original in Holyrood Palace by Sir Godfrey Kneller painted in Enamel by DB Murphy Edinb 1804’ Museum no. Loan:Gilbert.238-2008(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 Godfrey Kneller.
Subjects depicted
Summary
James II (ruled 1685-88), of the House of Stuart, was a staunch Roman Catholic whose religious views clashed with those of his parliament. Many in England and Scotland supported James' son-in-law, the Dutch Protestant Prince, William of Orange, who invaded England in 1688. James was defeated and lived out his life in exile in France.

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. 42E, pp. 89-92. ISBN 0856675334.
Other numbers
  • 1996.764.1 - The Gilbert Collection, Somerset House
  • MIN 3 E - Arthur Gilbert Number
  • MM 297 - Arthur Gilbert Number
Collection
Accession number
LOAN:GILBERT.238-2008

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Record createdJune 26, 2008
Record URL
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