Miniature
1740-1750 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A pupil of important enameller and fellow Swede Charles Boit, Mathieu found great success in France. His work includes oil painting, goldsmithing and enamel painting on porcelain and metal. In 1745 he was in charge of the painting department at the Royal Porcelain Factory, Vincennes (which later moved to Sèvres).
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, gold set with rose-cut diamonds |
| Brief description | Enamel miniature on copper of Louis XV, King of France, in a gold frame set with rose-cut diamonds, Paris, 1740-50, by John Adam Mathieu. |
| Physical description | Oval portrait miniature depicting Louis XV, King of France, wearing armour, a purple velvet cloak and the blue sash of the Royal French Order of the Holy Spirit. The miniature is enamel on copper and the frame is gold and set with diamonds and gold flowerheads. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Signed 'Mathieu. p:' (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 Acquired by Arthur Gilbert from S.J. Phillips Ltd, London, 1982 |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | A pupil of important enameller and fellow Swede Charles Boit, Mathieu found great success in France. His work includes oil painting, goldsmithing and enamel painting on porcelain and metal. In 1745 he was in charge of the painting department at the Royal Porcelain Factory, Vincennes (which later moved to Sèvres). 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. 40, pp. 87-88. ISBN 0856675334. |
| Other numbers |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.268-2008 |
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| Record created | June 26, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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