Miniature
1793 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Nicolas Soret was born in Geneva, one of the main centres for enamel painting. Political turmoil forced Soret to leave Geneva for Ireland in 1783. He then travelled to Russia, where he became court miniature painter to Catherine the Great and Tsar Paul I.
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, ormolu (gilded copper-alloy) frame |
| Brief description | Enamel miniature on copper of Count Peter Vassilievich Zavadovsky, in an ormolu frame with enamel, St. Petersburg, 1793, by Nicholas Soret. |
| Physical description | Oval miniature portrait of Count Peter Vassilievich Zavadovsky wearing a green uniform with the Imperial Russian Orders of St. George, St. Alexander Nevsky and St. Andrew. The miniature is enamel on copper and the frame is of enamel and pierced gilt-metal. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Signed and dated 'Soret px / 1793' |
| 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, 01/10/1982. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Nicolas Soret was born in Geneva, one of the main centres for enamel painting. Political turmoil forced Soret to leave Geneva for Ireland in 1783. He then travelled to Russia, where he became court miniature painter to Catherine the Great and Tsar Paul I. 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. |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.252-2008 |
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| Record created | June 26, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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