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Not currently on display at the V&A

Miniature

1845 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Henry (1594-1612) was the eldest son of James I and brother of the future Charles I. In his teens he proved a great patron of the arts, forming the first Royal collection of art and launching important artists including architect Inigo Jones. He was regarded by many as embodying national hopes for a new age in English art and politics. The country was plunged into grief upon his death from typhoid fever at the age of only 18.

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. Henry Bone (1755-1834) was a successful enameller in England. As a boy, he worked in William Cookworthy’s porcelain factory in Plymouth. It was there that he was introduced to the art of enamel painting. He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1781 and became a Royal Academician in 1811. Many of his enamel portraits are copies of older full-scale paintings, including a series depicting prominent men and women from the Elizabethan period. His sons, Henry Pierce Bone (1779-1855) and William Bone Senior (active 1810-43), followed in his footsteps and became enamellers. Like his father, Henry Pierce Bone made enamel copies of paintings of historical figures.

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, gilt metal
Brief description
Enamel miniature on copper of Henry, Prince of Wales, in a gilt copper frame, England, 1845, by Henry Pierce Bone.
Physical description
Oval portrait miniature of Henry, Prince of Wales, shown facing left in a red, yellow and blue embroidered white doublet with lace bordering, standing white ruff, embroidered jerkin and the Order of the Garter on a blue ribbon. The frame is gilt copper with an egg and dart border and scrolling surmount.
Dimensions
  • Height: 13.4cm
  • Width: 9.6cm
  • Depth: 0.95cm
Updated with measurements taken 02/09/08
Marks and inscriptions
Signed, inscribed and dated 'Henry Prince of Wales, Son of James 1st, London Oct. 1845. Painted by Henry Pierce Bone. Enamel Painter to Her Majesty & H.R.H. Prince Albert &c From the Original by Vansomer in the Collection of the Earl of Craven, Combe Abbey.' (On the counter enamel)
Gallery label
Henry, Prince of Wales 1845 Henry, Prince of Wales (1594–1612) was the son of James I and the elder brother of Charles I. He was a great patron of the arts, forming the first royal collection of art. The country was plunged into grief at his death from typhoid fever at the age of only eighteen. England; Henry Pierce Bone (1779–1855), after Robert Peake (died 1626) Enamel on copper in gilded copper frame Signed, inscribed and dated on counter-enamel ‘Henry Prince of Wales, Son of James 1.st, London Oct. 1845. Painted by Henry Pierce bone. Enamel Painter to Her Majesty & H.R.H. Prince Albert &c From the Original by Vansomer in the Collection of the Earl of Craven, Combe Abbey’ Museum no. Loan:Gilbert.245-2008(2009)
Credit line
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Object history
Provenance: Sale, Sotheby's London, lot 52, 12/03/1984. Sale, Christie's, London, lot 25, April 21, 1998.
Production
Portrait after Robert Peake.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Henry (1594-1612) was the eldest son of James I and brother of the future Charles I. In his teens he proved a great patron of the arts, forming the first Royal collection of art and launching important artists including architect Inigo Jones. He was regarded by many as embodying national hopes for a new age in English art and politics. The country was plunged into grief upon his death from typhoid fever at the age of only 18.

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. Henry Bone (1755-1834) was a successful enameller in England. As a boy, he worked in William Cookworthy’s porcelain factory in Plymouth. It was there that he was introduced to the art of enamel painting. He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1781 and became a Royal Academician in 1811. Many of his enamel portraits are copies of older full-scale paintings, including a series depicting prominent men and women from the Elizabethan period. His sons, Henry Pierce Bone (1779-1855) and William Bone Senior (active 1810-43), followed in his footsteps and became enamellers. Like his father, Henry Pierce Bone made enamel copies of paintings of historical figures.

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. 15, p. 63. ISBN 0856675334.
Other numbers
  • 1998.27.1 - The Gilbert Collection, Somerset House
  • MIN 72 - Arthur Gilbert Number
  • MM 297 - Arthur Gilbert Number
Collection
Accession number
LOAN:GILBERT.245-2008

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Record createdJune 26, 2008
Record URL
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