Portrait of Henrietta Skerrit
Portrait Miniature
1831 (painted)
1831 (painted)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
In the late 18th century a new sister art and rival to miniature portraits appeared. Since about 1700 miniaturists had worked on ivory, and before that on vellum (animal skin). Up to the late 18th century, watercolour was used mainly by topographic artists, who applied it on paper to tint their drawings. But as watercolour painting developed as an art in its own right, miniaturists saw that working on paper was easier, and so quicker and cheaper. They could thus attract new patrons. Many now widened their repertoire and developed types of watercolour portraits on paper or card. They produced elegant graphite drawings, either tinted lightly with a watercolour wash or with the sitter's head painted minutely in watercolour.
This example by George Richmond from 1831 combines graphite and watercolour. Typically, the head is more finished than the figure. Unlike the more expensive vellum or ivory, paper could quickly discolour and degrade. This work does not seem to have suffered too much.
This example by George Richmond from 1831 combines graphite and watercolour. Typically, the head is more finished than the figure. Unlike the more expensive vellum or ivory, paper could quickly discolour and degrade. This work does not seem to have suffered too much.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Portrait of Henrietta Skerrit (popular title) |
Materials and techniques | Graphite and watercolour on paper |
Brief description | Portrait in graphite and watercolour on paper of Henrietta Skerrit, dated 1831, by George Richmond, R.A. (1809-1896). |
Subject depicted | |
Summary | In the late 18th century a new sister art and rival to miniature portraits appeared. Since about 1700 miniaturists had worked on ivory, and before that on vellum (animal skin). Up to the late 18th century, watercolour was used mainly by topographic artists, who applied it on paper to tint their drawings. But as watercolour painting developed as an art in its own right, miniaturists saw that working on paper was easier, and so quicker and cheaper. They could thus attract new patrons. Many now widened their repertoire and developed types of watercolour portraits on paper or card. They produced elegant graphite drawings, either tinted lightly with a watercolour wash or with the sitter's head painted minutely in watercolour. This example by George Richmond from 1831 combines graphite and watercolour. Typically, the head is more finished than the figure. Unlike the more expensive vellum or ivory, paper could quickly discolour and degrade. This work does not seem to have suffered too much. |
Collection | |
Accession number | P.15-1960 |
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Record created | July 11, 2003 |
Record URL |
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