Portrait miniature

A portrait miniature is a miniature portrait painting, usually executed in gouache or watercolor.

England, 16th and 17th centuries

The portrait miniature developed from the miniature of illuminated manuscripts, which had been superseded for the purposes of book illustration by printing techniques such as engraving.

Related Topics:
Miniature - Illuminated manuscript - Printing - Engraving

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The first portrait miniaturist about whom anything definite is known was Nicholas Hilliard (c. 1537–1619), whose work partakes of the characteristics of illuminated manuscripts. The colors are opaque; gold is used to heighten the effect; while the paintings are on card. They are often signed, and have frequently also a Latin motto upon them. Hilliard worked for a while in France, and he is probably identical with the painter alluded to in 1577 as Nicholas Belliart. Hilliard was succeeded by his son Lawrence Hillard (died 1640). His technique was similar to that of his father, but bolder, and his miniatures richer in color.

Related Topics:
Nicholas Hilliard - 1537 - 1619 - Illuminated manuscript - Gold - Latin - Motto - Lawrence Hillard - 1640

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Isaac Oliver and his son Peter Oliver succeeded Hilliard. Isaac (c. 1560–1617) is said to have been the pupil of Hilliard and Federigo Zuccaro. Peter (1594–1647) was the pupil of Isaac. The two men were the earliest to give roundness and form to the faces they painted. They signed their best works in monogram, and painted not only very small miniatures, but larger ones measuring as much as 10 in × 9 in (250 mm × 230 mm). They copied for Charles I of England on a small scale many of his famous pictures by the old masters.

Related Topics:
Isaac Oliver - Peter Oliver - 1560 - 1617 - Federigo Zuccaro - 1594 - 1647 - Monogram - Charles I of England - Old master

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At about the same date Balthazar Gerbier, George Jamesone, Penelope Cleyn and her brothers, were workers in the art. John Hoskins (died 1664) was followed by a son of the same name, who was known to have been living in 1700, since a miniature signed by him and bearing that date is in the Pierpont Morgan collection, representing James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick.

Related Topics:
Balthazar Gerbier - George Jamesone - Penelope Cleyn - John Hoskins - 1664 - James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick

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Samuel Cooper (1609–1672) was a nephew and student of the elder Hoskins, and is considered the greatest English portrait miniaturist. He spent much of his time in Paris and Holland, and very little is known of his career. His work has a superb breadth and dignity, and has been well called life-size work in little. His portraits of the men of the Puritan epoch are remarkable for their truth to life and strength of handling. He painted upon card, chicken skin and vellum, and on two occasions upon thin pieces of mutton bone. The use of ivory was not introduced until long after his time. His work is frequently signed with his initials, generally in gold, and very often with the addition of the date.

Related Topics:
Samuel Cooper - 1609 - 1672 - Paris - Holland - Puritan

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Other miniaturists of this period include Alexander Cooper (died 1660), who painted a series of portraits of the children of the king and queen of Bohemia; David des Granges (1611–1675); Richard Gibson (1615–1690); Susannah-Penelope Rosse, his daughter, who imitated the work of Samuel Cooper, and Charles Beale and Mary Beale. They are followed by such artists as Lawrence Crosse (died 1724), Gervase Spencer (died 1763), Bernard Lens, Nathaniel Hone and Jeremiah Meyer, the latter two notable in connection with the foundation of the Royal Academy. The workers in black lead (plumbago, as it was called at that time) must not be overlooked, especially David Loggan, William Faithorne, White, Thomas Forster and John Faber. They drew with exquisite detail and great effect on paper or vellum.

Related Topics:
Alexander Cooper - David des Granges - 1611 - 1675 - Richard Gibson - 1615 - 1690 - Susannah-Penelope Rosse - Charles Beale - Mary Beale - Lawrence Crosse - 1724 - Gervase Spencer - 1763 - Bernard Lens - Nathaniel Hone - Jeremiah Meyer - Royal Academy - Black lead - David Loggan - William Faithorne - Thomas Forster - John Faber - Vellum

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