Miniature
1700-1715 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Disguised as a faun, Jupiter approaches the sleeping beauty Antiope, daughter of the King of Thebes, and uncovers her.
The practice of painting portrait miniatures in enamels developed out of the decorative work of goldsmiths and watchmakers in the French cities of Blois, Châteaudun and Paris. Portrait plaques had been made in the enamelling workshops of Limoges in central France during the 16th century, but in the 1630s, Jean Toutin adapted existing techniques to make the subtle colouring and delicate detail of enamel miniatures possible. Small objects like watches or snuffboxes were ideally suited to this technique and many were decorated with portraits and mythological or allegorical scenes. Artists throughout Europe continually refined their approaches to painting enamel portraits. While 17th century enamellers used a very fine stipple to create light and shade in their miniatures, artists in the 18th century began to use larger brushstrokes for a more fluid effect.
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.
The practice of painting portrait miniatures in enamels developed out of the decorative work of goldsmiths and watchmakers in the French cities of Blois, Châteaudun and Paris. Portrait plaques had been made in the enamelling workshops of Limoges in central France during the 16th century, but in the 1630s, Jean Toutin adapted existing techniques to make the subtle colouring and delicate detail of enamel miniatures possible. Small objects like watches or snuffboxes were ideally suited to this technique and many were decorated with portraits and mythological or allegorical scenes. Artists throughout Europe continually refined their approaches to painting enamel portraits. While 17th century enamellers used a very fine stipple to create light and shade in their miniatures, artists in the 18th century began to use larger brushstrokes for a more fluid effect.
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, gold and copper alloy |
Brief description | Enamel miniature on copper, in a gold and copper alloy frame, Geneva, 1700-1715, by Jean Pierre. |
Physical description | A rectangular miniature with curved corners depicting Jupiter as a satyr unveiling the sleeping Antiope who reclines on a blue drape with Cupid all within a landscape with two doves in the background. The frame is of gold and copper alloy with a glazed back. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions | Signed 'Huaut p' (On the counter enamel) |
Gallery label | Jupiter and Antiope
1700–15
Disguised as a faun, Jupiter approaches the sleeping
beauty, Antiope, daughter of the King of Thebes, and
uncovers her.
Geneva, Switzerland; Jean Pierre (1655–1723)
and/or Ami Huaut (1657–1724)
Enamel on copper in gold and copper alloy frame
Signed on counter-enamel ‘Huaut p’
Museum no. Loan:Gilbert.299-2008(2009) |
Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
Object history | Provenance Acquired by Arthur Gilbert from S.J. Phillips Ltd, London, 1982 |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | Disguised as a faun, Jupiter approaches the sleeping beauty Antiope, daughter of the King of Thebes, and uncovers her. The practice of painting portrait miniatures in enamels developed out of the decorative work of goldsmiths and watchmakers in the French cities of Blois, Châteaudun and Paris. Portrait plaques had been made in the enamelling workshops of Limoges in central France during the 16th century, but in the 1630s, Jean Toutin adapted existing techniques to make the subtle colouring and delicate detail of enamel miniatures possible. Small objects like watches or snuffboxes were ideally suited to this technique and many were decorated with portraits and mythological or allegorical scenes. Artists throughout Europe continually refined their approaches to painting enamel portraits. While 17th century enamellers used a very fine stipple to create light and shade in their miniatures, artists in the 18th century began to use larger brushstrokes for a more fluid effect. 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. 26, p. 74. ISBN 0856675334. |
Other numbers |
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Collection | |
Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.299-2008 |
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Record created | June 26, 2008 |
Record URL |
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