Miniature
ca. 1690 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This miniature was painted by Josias Barbette. After the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, Barbette and many other Protestant artists left France. He worked in Geneva, Kassel and Copenhagen during his career painting prominent figures like Landgrave Charles of Hesse-Kassel and members of the Danish Royal family.
In the 17th century, new techniques of painting enamels allowed delicate portraits resembling tiny oil paintings to be created. This enamel portraiture in miniature was a truly international art. Many enamellers travelled in order to find new markets, while others migrated to escape religious persecution. Enamel miniatures were first fashionable in continental Europe, but were particularly in vogue in Britain from the 1720s to 1760s.
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. This enamel portraiture in miniature was a truly international art. Many enamellers travelled in order to find new markets, while others migrated to escape religious persecution. Enamel miniatures were first fashionable in continental Europe, but were particularly in vogue in Britain from the 1720s to 1760s.
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 gold |
| Brief description | Enamel miniature on gold of Landgrave Charles of Hesse-Kassel, Kassel or Copenhagen, ca.1690, by Josais Barbette. |
| Physical description | Miniature, enamel on gold, oval portrait of Landgrave Charles of Hesse-Kassel depicted wearing a long, dark, curly wig, a red knotted cravat and the blue sash of the Royal Danish Order of the Elephant. The frame is gold and is enamelled on the reverse with interlaced mirrored 'C's below the coronet of a German Landgrave with scrolls around. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
| Object history | Provenence: Countess Charlotte Sophie Bentinck. Christian Frederick Anton, Count Bentinck. By descent to Timothy Bentinck. Sale, Sotheby's, London, lot 226, 30/06/1980. S.J. Phillips Ltd., London, 1980. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This miniature was painted by Josias Barbette. After the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, Barbette and many other Protestant artists left France. He worked in Geneva, Kassel and Copenhagen during his career painting prominent figures like Landgrave Charles of Hesse-Kassel and members of the Danish Royal family. In the 17th century, new techniques of painting enamels allowed delicate portraits resembling tiny oil paintings to be created. This enamel portraiture in miniature was a truly international art. Many enamellers travelled in order to find new markets, while others migrated to escape religious persecution. Enamel miniatures were first fashionable in continental Europe, but were particularly in vogue in Britain from the 1720s to 1760s. 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. 1, pp. 48-49. ISBN 0856675334. |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.298-2008 |
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| Record created | June 26, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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