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Miniature

1804 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Charles Edward Stuart (1720-88) was the last serious Stuart claimant to the English throne. He staged an unsuccessful rebellion against George II in 1745-6. He was later romanticised in literature and legend as Bonnie Prince Charlie.

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, and original papier-mâché frame with ormolu mounts.
Brief description
Enamel miniature on copper of 'Bonnie' Prince Charlie, in an original papier-mâché frame with ormolu mounts, Scotland, 1804, by Denis Brownwell Murphy.
Physical description
Enamel portrait miniature depicting The Young Pretender, Charles Edward Stuart or 'Bonnie' Prince Charlie. The sitter is depicted in Stuart tartan with blue velvet tam, white bow, blue sash and Star and Order of the Garter. The frame is papier-mâché with ormolu mounts in the shape of shells.
Dimensions
  • Depth: 1.4cm
  • Height: 16.7cm
  • Width: 14.7cm
Measured 19/02/24 IW
Gallery label
The Young Pretender, Charles Edward Stuart, ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ 1804 Charles Edward Stuart (1720–88), the last serious Stuart claimant to the English and Scottish thrones, staged an unsuccessful rebellion against George II in 1745–6. He was later romanticised in literature and legend as Bonnie Prince Charlie. Scotland; Denis Brownell Murphy (about 1745–1842), after an unknown version Enamel on copper in original papier-mâché frame with gilded copper-alloy mounts Museum no. Loan:Gilbert.240-2008(2009)
Credit line
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Object history
Provenance: Johnson, Walker & Tolhurst, London., 1979.
Production
Others in set signed and dated.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Charles Edward Stuart (1720-88) was the last serious Stuart claimant to the English throne. He staged an unsuccessful rebellion against George II in 1745-6. He was later romanticised in literature and legend as Bonnie Prince Charlie.

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. 42G, pp. 89-92. ISBN 0856675334.
Other numbers
  • 1996.766.1 - The Gilbert Collection, Somerset House
  • Min 3 G - Arthur Gilbert Number
  • MM 297 - Arthur Gilbert Number
Collection
Accession number
LOAN:GILBERT.240-2008

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Record createdJune 26, 2008
Record URL
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