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This object consists of 3 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Portrait of an unknown woman

Portrait Miniature
second half 17th century (painted)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is an example of an unusual amusement that came into fashion after about 1650. It consists of an oil miniature painted on copper and set in a leather case. Accompanying the miniature are a number of costume details painted in opaque colour on slivers of transparent mineral known at the time as ‘talc’. In fact, the little costume sheets are pieces of mica. This is a mineral that splits easily into thin yet very tough and flexible flakes, as transparent as glass. These ‘talcs’ matched the oil miniature in shape and size, so that the owner could dress up the subject in different costumes by laying on the ‘talcs’ one at a time. We do not know where these miniatures were manufactured, but they are found throughout Europe. They could be accompanied by as many as 20 different talcs.

Object details

Category
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Miniature
  • Overlay for a Miniature
  • Overlays for a Miniature
Titles
  • Portrait of an unknown woman (popular title)
  • Catherine of Braganza (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Oil on copper with a painted mica overlay
Brief description
Portrait miniature of an unknown woman, informally known as 'Catherine of Braganza', oil on copper with a painted mica costume overlay. Anonymous, Dutch, 17th century.
Physical description
Portrait miniature of an unknown woman, oil on copper with a painted mica costume overlay.
Dimensions
  • Case height: 88mm
  • Case (closed) width: 70mm
  • Case (open) width: 143mm
Credit line
Given by Mrs E. C. Ellis
Subject depicted
Summary
This is an example of an unusual amusement that came into fashion after about 1650. It consists of an oil miniature painted on copper and set in a leather case. Accompanying the miniature are a number of costume details painted in opaque colour on slivers of transparent mineral known at the time as ‘talc’. In fact, the little costume sheets are pieces of mica. This is a mineral that splits easily into thin yet very tough and flexible flakes, as transparent as glass. These ‘talcs’ matched the oil miniature in shape and size, so that the owner could dress up the subject in different costumes by laying on the ‘talcs’ one at a time. We do not know where these miniatures were manufactured, but they are found throughout Europe. They could be accompanied by as many as 20 different talcs.
Collection
Accession number
P.144 to Q-1931

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Record createdJuly 11, 2003
Record URL
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