Miniature
ca. 1760 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Born in Florence to Scottish parents, MacPherson later spent time in London and possibly Vienna. He worked across a range of media, and executed many copies of paintings, including a series commissioned by George, 3rd Earl Cowper, an English connoisseur who settled in Florence in the 1760s.
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 copper, foil-backed diamonds, gold rim frame with jewelled and pearl set filigree surround |
| Brief description | Enamel miniature on copper, in a gold rim frame with diamond and pearl set silver filigree surround, Florence, ca.1760, by James Macpherson. |
| Physical description | Oval portrait miniature depicting a man at an easel wearing a brown cloak with blue lapels and cuffs painting a bull or cow and a rustic figure. The oval gold frame is set in a later flattened silver wire surround, set with half-pearls and rose-cut diamonds |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Signed 'Macpherson pinx: 757' (On the counter enamel) |
| 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 | Provenance: D.S. Lavender, London, 01/10/1981. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Born in Florence to Scottish parents, MacPherson later spent time in London and possibly Vienna. He worked across a range of media, and executed many copies of paintings, including a series commissioned by George, 3rd Earl Cowper, an English connoisseur who settled in Florence in the 1760s. 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. 37, p. 85. ISBN 0856675334. |
| Other numbers |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.266-2008 |
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| Record created | June 26, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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