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Miniature

1768 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This man, wearing an overcoat, may be a peasant figure. Rustic life was a popular subject during this period.

The practice of painting portrait miniatures in enamels developed out of the decorative work of goldsmiths and watchmakers in the French cities of Blois, Châteaudun and Paris. Portrait plaques had been made in the enamelling workshops of Limoges in central France during the 16th century, but in the 1630s, Jean Toutin adapted existing techniques to make the subtle colouring and delicate detail of enamel miniatures possible. Small objects like watches or snuffboxes were ideally suited to this technique and many were decorated with portraits and mythological or allegorical scenes. Artists throughout Europe continually refined their approaches to painting enamel portraits. While 17th century enamellers used a very fine stipple to create light and shade in their miniatures, artists in the 18th century began to use larger brushstrokes for a more fluid effect.

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
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Miniature
  • Frame
  • Frame
Materials and techniques
Enamel on copper, set in a rectangular, ormolu frame
Brief description
Enamel miniature on copper, set in a rectangular, ormolu frame, England, 1768, by James Macpherson.
Physical description
Oval portrait miniature depicting an elderly man with white hair and a beard, a blue shirt and a red jacket. The miniature is enamel on copper and the original gold rim frame is set in a later rectangular ormolu frame with laurel borders.
Dimensions
  • Miniature out of frame height: 5.50cm
  • Miniature out of frame width: 3.70cm
Gallery label
Old man About 1770 This man, wearing an overcoat, may be a peasant figure. Rustic life was a popular subject in this period. England; James (Giuseppe) MacPherson (1726– about 1780) Enamel on copper in original pendant gold-rim frame (formerly hinged, now fixed) Signed on front right edge ‘Macpherson pinx’; the number ‘2768’ on counter-enamel Museum no. Loan: Gilbert.267:1-2008(2009)
Credit line
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Object history
Provenance: D.S. Lavender, London, 01/10/1981.
Subject depicted
Summary
This man, wearing an overcoat, may be a peasant figure. Rustic life was a popular subject during this period.

The practice of painting portrait miniatures in enamels developed out of the decorative work of goldsmiths and watchmakers in the French cities of Blois, Châteaudun and Paris. Portrait plaques had been made in the enamelling workshops of Limoges in central France during the 16th century, but in the 1630s, Jean Toutin adapted existing techniques to make the subtle colouring and delicate detail of enamel miniatures possible. Small objects like watches or snuffboxes were ideally suited to this technique and many were decorated with portraits and mythological or allegorical scenes. Artists throughout Europe continually refined their approaches to painting enamel portraits. While 17th century enamellers used a very fine stipple to create light and shade in their miniatures, artists in the 18th century began to use larger brushstrokes for a more fluid effect.

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. 38, pp. 85-86. ISBN 0856675334.
Other numbers
  • MIN 30 - Arthur Gilbert Number
  • 1996.791.1 - The Gilbert Collection, Somerset House
  • MIN 26 - Arthur Gilbert Number
Collection
Accession number
LOAN:GILBERT.267:1 to 3-2008

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Record createdJune 26, 2008
Record URL
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