Miniature
ca. 1802 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Francis Rawdon-Hastings (1754-1826) was governor-general of Bengal from 1813 to 1822, overseeing the Gurkha War and the purchase of Singapore for Britain in 1819.
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.
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, papier mâché and wood frame with ormolu mounts |
| Brief description | Enamel miniature on copper of Francis Rawdon-Hastings, the 2nd Earl of Moira, in a papier mache and wood frame with ormolu mounts, England, ca.1802, by Henry Spicer. |
| Physical description | Rectangular miniature portrait of Francis Rawdon-Hastings, the 2nd Earl of Moira and Governor General of India, shown in a scarlet and blue uniform holding a document with a pillar to his left and a crimson background. The miniature is enamel on copper and the frame is of papier mâché and wood with ormolu mounts. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Inscribed '(?) Rt Honble (?) / Earl of Moira / born the 7th December 1756 / (?) painted (?) by Spicer / Enamel painter to / HRH the Prince of Wales' (faint) (On backing paper) |
| 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: Sale, Christie's London, lot 49, 19/03/1980. |
| Production | Portrait after John Hoppner |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Francis Rawdon-Hastings (1754-1826) was governor-general of Bengal from 1813 to 1822, overseeing the Gurkha War and the purchase of Singapore for Britain in 1819. 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. 56, pp. 105-106. ISBN 0856675334 |
| Other numbers |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.228-2008 |
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| Record created | June 26, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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