Miniature
ca. 1750 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Queen Caroline and her husband, the future King George II, arrived in London in 1714, when her father-in-law ascended the throne. William Prewett was one of several enamel painters who trained by working in Zincke's studio, going on to become one of the first successful English-born portrait enamellers.
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
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| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 3 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Enamel on copper, gold |
| Brief description | Enamel miniature on copper of George II, in a gold frame, England, ca.1750, by William Prewett. |
| Physical description | Oval, bust length portrait miniature of George II shown wearing armour, a red cape with an ermine trim, a blue sash, the Order of the Garter and a shoulder length powdered wig. The miniature is enamel on copper and the frame is of gold. |
| Dimensions |
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| 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, Sotheby's London, lot 19, 13/12/1976. Sale, Christie's London, lot 10, 08/03/1995. Acquired by Arthur Gilbert from S.J. Phillips Ltd, London, 1995. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Queen Caroline and her husband, the future King George II, arrived in London in 1714, when her father-in-law ascended the throne. William Prewett was one of several enamel painters who trained by working in Zincke's studio, going on to become one of the first successful English-born portrait enamellers. 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. 43, pp. 92-93. ISBN 0856675334. |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.275:1 to 3-2008 |
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| Record created | June 26, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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