Miniatures

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Landscape and water
Watercolor over Bristol board
2" by 3"
50.8 mm by 76.2 mm.

New doll
Oil on canvas
2 1/2" by 3"
44.4 mm by 76.2 mm.

The fence
Watercolor over Bristol board
 4" by 2 3/4"

Fish and oranges
Watercolor over Bristol board
2" by 3"
50.8 mm by 76.2 mm.

Female portrait
Polymery Clay
1 1/2" height by 1" wide by 3/4" depth
not including base
38 mm H. by 24.4 mm W. by 19.05 mm D.

Female portrait
Polymery Clay
1 1/2" height by 1" wide by 3/4" depth
not including base
38 mm H. by 24.4 mm W. by 19.05 mm D.

Back, nude study
Watercolor on Bristol
2 1/2" by 3 1/4"
65 mm by 83 mm

Side, nude study
Watercolor on Bristol
4" by 3"
105 mm by 80 mm

Still life and apples
Watercolor on Bristol
2" by 3"
50.8 mm by 76.2 mm

Nude 2
Watercolor on Bristol
3" by 4"
80 mm by 105 mm

Nude 3
Watercolor on Bristol
3" by 4"
80 mm by 105 mm

Mountain and trees
Oil on canvas
1 3/4" by 2 1/2"
44.4 mm by 63.5 mm

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

Portrait miniatures began to flourish in 16th-century Europe and the art was practiced during the 17th and 18th centuries. It was especially valuable in introducing people to each other over distances; a nobleman proposing the marriage of his daughter might send a courier with her portrait to visit potential suitors. Soldiers and sailors might carry miniatures of their loved ones while travelling, or a wife might keep one of her husband while he was away.

The first miniaturists used watercolor to paint on stretched vellum, but in the 18th century, miniatures were also painted on ivory and enamel. As small in size as 40 mm × 30 mm (1½ in × 1¼ in), portrait miniatures were often used as personal mementos or as jewelry or snuff box covers.

In the second half of the 19th century, the development of daguerreotypes and photographs contributed to the decline in popularity of the miniatures.

Une miniature est un tableau de petites dimensions réalisé avec minutie. Cet art dérive de l'enluminure et doit peut-être son nom au minium, un oxyde de plomb servant de pigment rouge orangé. Différentes techniques furent utilisées allant de la peinture à l'huile sur tôle de cuivre à l'aquarelle et au vélin mais c'est essentiellement la gouache sur feuille d'ivoire qui domina la production des XVIIIe siècle et XIXe siècle. Les tons clairs exploitaient les transparences de l'aquarelle pour faire éclater la blancheur du support éburnéen.

Avant la photo, la miniature représentait le seul moyen de faire connaître un visage à distance. Elle s'échangeait entre fiancés qui ne s'étaient jamais vus dans les mariages arrangés ; elle s'offrait entre parents séparés ; elle pouvait même servir à la police pour diffuser un signalement. C'est peut-être une miniature qui servit à la police de Fouché pour identifier et arrêter Cadoudal.

Les miniaturistes étaient donc fort recherchés et il y en avait de grand talent. L'un d'entre eux, Isabey, élève de David, fut le maître de cérémonie du Sacre de Napoléon.

Le terme miniature est également utilisé pour désigner un modèle réduit, une maquette. Il est de plus en plus associé aux termes de vitrine et de diorama qui sont des modes de présentation de ces modèles représentant souvent des scènes de la vie courante.

Miniatures are painted in oil, watercolor and enamel, but chiefly in watercolor. Many Dutch and German miniatures were painted in oil, and as a rule these are on copper; and there are portraits in the same medium, and often on the same material, attributed to many of the great Italian artists, notably those of the Bologna school. Samuel Cooper is said to have executed a few paintings in oil on copper.

The work of the 18th century on ivory is in watercolor. The use of ivory came into general adoption in the early part of the reign of William III of England, miniatures previous to that time having been painted on vellum, chicken-skin or cardboard, a few on the backs of playing cards, and many more on very thin vellum closely mounted on to playing cards.

Caring for miniature portraits

Miniatures are extremely sensitive to light and should be stored in the dark and exhibited or shown always under low light levels at maximum 45 Lux except for pertinent photography and/or laboratory examination.

Miniatures should be kept in a cool, dry, dark place with a stable environment, ideally at 50% relative humidity (RH) and 18 degrees Celsius.

White cotton gloves must be worn at all times to handle miniature cases, lockets and frames.

Miniatures are exhibited only in environmentally controlled and stable exhibition rooms and display cases.

Miniatures may be loaned for exhibitions when the highest standards are guaranteed for packing, crating, shipping and installation.

Great care must be taken when handling unframed miniature paintings as body heat generated by the hand will immediately transfer to the miniature.

Human hands produce oils which can be transfered to miniatures, staining them.

Miniatures Copyright 1976-2009 Dr. Gloria M. Norris, Yoyita.  Click     to contact the artist for prices or information