Portrait of Alexander Small
Enamel Miniature
1737 (painted)
1737 (painted)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This portrait is painted in enamel on metal. The advantage of enamel over traditional miniature painting (watercolour painted on vellum or, from about 1700, on ivory) is that it does not fade when exposed to light. The process of painting with enamels is, however, less free than the miniature technique and is fraught with danger. The first colours to be laid on the metal support have to be those needing the highest temperature when firing. More colour is added and the enamel refired, the process ending with the colours needing the lowest temperature. Such labour meant that it was an expensive option.
Enamel was first practised in England in the 1630s by the Swiss goldsmith Jean Petitot at the court of Charles I. It was reintroduced around 1680 by a Swede, Charles Boit, and achieved wide popularity with the work of Christian Friedrich Zincke of Germany. Both Boit and Zincke were goldsmiths by training and painted only enamels rather than traditional portrait miniatures in watercolour on vellum or ivory. This is a typical example of Zincke’s hugely fashionable work.
Enamel was first practised in England in the 1630s by the Swiss goldsmith Jean Petitot at the court of Charles I. It was reintroduced around 1680 by a Swede, Charles Boit, and achieved wide popularity with the work of Christian Friedrich Zincke of Germany. Both Boit and Zincke were goldsmiths by training and painted only enamels rather than traditional portrait miniatures in watercolour on vellum or ivory. This is a typical example of Zincke’s hugely fashionable work.
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Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Portrait of Alexander Small (popular title) |
Materials and techniques | Enamel on metal |
Brief description | Portrait enamel of Alexander Small, dated 1737. Enamel on metal, painted by Christian Freidrich Zincke (?1684-1767). |
Physical description | Inscribed at the back "Alexr Small / CF [conjoined] Zincke Pinxt / 1737" |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions | Alex r Small / C F (conjoined) Zincke pinx t / 1737 (Inscription on the back of this enamel) |
Credit line | Alan Evans Bequest, given by the National Gallery |
Subject depicted | |
Summary | This portrait is painted in enamel on metal. The advantage of enamel over traditional miniature painting (watercolour painted on vellum or, from about 1700, on ivory) is that it does not fade when exposed to light. The process of painting with enamels is, however, less free than the miniature technique and is fraught with danger. The first colours to be laid on the metal support have to be those needing the highest temperature when firing. More colour is added and the enamel refired, the process ending with the colours needing the lowest temperature. Such labour meant that it was an expensive option. Enamel was first practised in England in the 1630s by the Swiss goldsmith Jean Petitot at the court of Charles I. It was reintroduced around 1680 by a Swede, Charles Boit, and achieved wide popularity with the work of Christian Friedrich Zincke of Germany. Both Boit and Zincke were goldsmiths by training and painted only enamels rather than traditional portrait miniatures in watercolour on vellum or ivory. This is a typical example of Zincke’s hugely fashionable work. |
Bibliographic reference | Summary Catalogue of Miniatures in the Victoria and Albert Museum, Haslemere: Emmett Microform, 1981 |
Collection | |
Accession number | EVANS.321 |
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Record created | July 9, 2003 |
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