Portrait of Frederick V (1596-1632), Elector Palatine, King of Bohemia thumbnail 1

Portrait of Frederick V (1596-1632), Elector Palatine, King of Bohemia

Enamel Miniature
ca. 1627-1691 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This portrait is painted in enamel on metal. The advantage of enamel over traditional miniature painting (watercolour painted on vellum or, from about 1700, on ivory) is that it does not fade when exposed to light. The process of painting with enamels is, however, less free than the miniature technique and is fraught with danger. The first colours to be laid on the metal support have to be those needing the highest temperature when firing. More colour is added and the enamel refired, the process ending with the colours needing the lowest temperature. Such labour meant that it was an expensive option.

This enamel was formerly attributed to Jean Petitot, a goldsmith and jeweller. Petitot and his friend, the enameller Jacques Bordier, together developed the art of painting portraits in enamel using a previously unexplored range of colours and subtlety of tone. Petitot introduced the court of Charles I in England to this novel art in the late 1630s. It is likely that he left England before the execution of his patron, Charles I, in 1649. Thereafter he practised in France, painting many portraits of Louis XIV, his children and those connected with his court.

Petitot was much imitated in his day, and has been even more frequently copied, especially in the 19th century. But this seems to be an authentic early 17th-century work which has simply been misattributed to Petitot in the past. It is possibly by a contemporary of Petitot and as such is an interesting if puzzling object.

Frederick V (1596-1632) was elector Palatine of the Rhine. He was also made king of Bohemia (1619-1620) and was head of the Protestant union against Catholic Austria in the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648).

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePortrait of Frederick V (1596-1632), Elector Palatine, King of Bohemia (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Enamel on metal
Brief description
Portrait miniature of Frederick V, Elector Palatine, King of Bohemia, formerly attributed to Jean Petitot, French, ca. 1627-1691
Physical description
Enamel portrait miniature of Frederick V (1596-1632), Elector Palatine, King of Bohemia
Dimensions
  • Frame (with loop) height: 101mm
  • Frame (without loop) height: 92mm
  • Frame width: 81mm
  • Aperture height: 43mm
  • Aperture width: 34mm
  • Height: 41mm
  • Miniature without frame width: 38mm
Dimensions without frame taken from Summary Catalogue of Miniatures in the Victoria and Albert Museum, Emmett Microform, 1981.
Gallery label
(09.12.2015)
Locket cover with portrait
of Frederick V
1628–32

Frederick V was a key figure at the start of the Thirty Years War. He was head of the Protestant Union of princes and briefly king of the disputed territory of Bohemia. In 1620, Frederick was forced into exile by the Catholic victory at the Battle of the White Mountain. Here he wears a delicate band of lace, but the blackened armour underneath emphasises his military bearing.

France or Germany

Enamel on gold
Production
Formerly attributed to Jean Petitot, Sr
Subject depicted
Summary
This portrait is painted in enamel on metal. The advantage of enamel over traditional miniature painting (watercolour painted on vellum or, from about 1700, on ivory) is that it does not fade when exposed to light. The process of painting with enamels is, however, less free than the miniature technique and is fraught with danger. The first colours to be laid on the metal support have to be those needing the highest temperature when firing. More colour is added and the enamel refired, the process ending with the colours needing the lowest temperature. Such labour meant that it was an expensive option.

This enamel was formerly attributed to Jean Petitot, a goldsmith and jeweller. Petitot and his friend, the enameller Jacques Bordier, together developed the art of painting portraits in enamel using a previously unexplored range of colours and subtlety of tone. Petitot introduced the court of Charles I in England to this novel art in the late 1630s. It is likely that he left England before the execution of his patron, Charles I, in 1649. Thereafter he practised in France, painting many portraits of Louis XIV, his children and those connected with his court.

Petitot was much imitated in his day, and has been even more frequently copied, especially in the 19th century. But this seems to be an authentic early 17th-century work which has simply been misattributed to Petitot in the past. It is possibly by a contemporary of Petitot and as such is an interesting if puzzling object.

Frederick V (1596-1632) was elector Palatine of the Rhine. He was also made king of Bohemia (1619-1620) and was head of the Protestant union against Catholic Austria in the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648).
Bibliographic reference
Summary Catalogue of Miniatures in the Victoria and Albert Museum, Emmett Microform, 1981
Collection
Accession number
2025-1855

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Record createdJuly 9, 2003
Record URL
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