Miniature
1752 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Gervase Spencer was originally a gentleman's servant who taught himself miniature painting in watercolour on ivory. It is however unclear how he learned the more complicated process of enamelling.
In the 17th century, new techniques of painting enamels allowed delicate portraits resembling tiny oil paintings to be created. This enamel portraiture in miniature was a truly international art. Many enamellers travelled in order to find new markets, while others migrated to escape religious persecution. Enamel miniatures were first fashionable in continental Europe, but were particularly in vogue in Britain from the 1720s to 1760s.
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.
In the 17th century, new techniques of painting enamels allowed delicate portraits resembling tiny oil paintings to be created. This enamel portraiture in miniature was a truly international art. Many enamellers travelled in order to find new markets, while others migrated to escape religious persecution. Enamel miniatures were first fashionable in continental Europe, but were particularly in vogue in Britain from the 1720s to 1760s.
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-brass frame |
Brief description | Enamel miniature on copper, in a gilt-brass frame, England, 1752, by Gervase Spencer. |
Physical description | Oval miniature portrait of a young girl resting her head on her hand. She wears a pink and white dress, a cape with pink ribbons and a white bonnet. The miniature is enamel on copper with a gilt-brass rim frame. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions | Signed and dated 'G. Spencer pinxt / 1752' (On the counter enamel) |
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: Wartski, 1979. |
Subject depicted | |
Summary | Gervase Spencer was originally a gentleman's servant who taught himself miniature painting in watercolour on ivory. It is however unclear how he learned the more complicated process of enamelling. In the 17th century, new techniques of painting enamels allowed delicate portraits resembling tiny oil paintings to be created. This enamel portraiture in miniature was a truly international art. Many enamellers travelled in order to find new markets, while others migrated to escape religious persecution. Enamel miniatures were first fashionable in continental Europe, but were particularly in vogue in Britain from the 1720s to 1760s. 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. 51, pp. 102-103. ISBN 0856675334. |
Other numbers |
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Collection | |
Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.271-2008 |
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Record created | June 26, 2008 |
Record URL |
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