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Miniature

ca. 1720 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Sarah Churchill (1660-1744), wife of John Churchill, held a great deal of influence in her position as Mistress of the Robes and Keeper of the Privy Purse to Queen Anne. She and the Queen famously quarrelled in 1707 and she was later dismissed from Court.

Continental artists first introduced enamel painting to England in the 17th century. But it was in the early 18th century that it became fashionable. The young German Christian Friedrich Zincke dominated the market in London. It was Zincke who trained a number of English artists, including William Prewett. Most artists working in enamel were taught by an experienced enameller. It is not known who trained Gervase Spencer this difficult art, but he later taught Henry Spicer, who in turn taught William Birch. In 1794 Birch successfully established himself in America as an enamel painter.

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, engraved silver-gilt frame
Brief description
Enamel miniature on copper of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, with a silver-gilt frame, England, ca. 1720, by Christian Frederick Zincke.
Physical description
Oval miniature portrait of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, facing forwards and wearing a white gown with a blue trim. The miniature is enamel on copper and the frame is silver-gilt, engraved with an inscription.
Dimensions
  • Height: 5.35cm
  • Width: 3.9cm
  • Depth: 0.9cm
Updated with measurements taken 29/07/08
Marks and inscriptions
Engraved 'Sarah Duchess of Marlborough' (On reverse in script)
Gallery label
Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough About 1720 England; Christian Friedrich Zincke (about 1683–1767) Enamel on copper in gilded silver frame Engraved on reverse in script ‘Sarah Duchess of Marlborough’ Museum no. Loan: Gilbert.291-2008(2009)
Credit line
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Object history
Provenance: Spencer family, Althorp. S.J. Phillips, 01/08/1997.
Subject depicted
Summary
Sarah Churchill (1660-1744), wife of John Churchill, held a great deal of influence in her position as Mistress of the Robes and Keeper of the Privy Purse to Queen Anne. She and the Queen famously quarrelled in 1707 and she was later dismissed from Court.

Continental artists first introduced enamel painting to England in the 17th century. But it was in the early 18th century that it became fashionable. The young German Christian Friedrich Zincke dominated the market in London. It was Zincke who trained a number of English artists, including William Prewett. Most artists working in enamel were taught by an experienced enameller. It is not known who trained Gervase Spencer this difficult art, but he later taught Henry Spicer, who in turn taught William Birch. In 1794 Birch successfully established himself in America as an enamel painter.

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. 67, pp. 116-117. ISBN 0856675334.
Other numbers
  • 1999.52.1 - The Gilbert Collection, Somerset House
  • MIN 69 - Arthur Gilbert Number
  • MM 2 - Arthur Gilbert Number
Collection
Accession number
LOAN:GILBERT.291-2008

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Record createdJune 26, 2008
Record URL
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