Portrait miniatures: painting on ivory
The first British artist to paint on ivory was Bernard Lens, in about 1707. At the same time that ivory replaced vellum, miniatures tended to become smaller. This was probably because of the difficulty of using watercolour on ivory. Another reason might have been the fashion for enamel portraits, which were small.
Miniature painting was now an established genteel pastime. Until the 1760s most miniaturists had no professional training. Penelope Carwardine was an amateur turned professional, while Gervase Spencer, originally a footman, and Samuel Cotes, an apothecary (pharmacist), were both self-taught. Many were not even full-time miniaturists. Luke Sullivan was an engraver and Thomas Frye ran the Bow porcelain factory.
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The Painted World: From Illumination to Abstraction
A richly illustrated book that seeks to redress the balance by exploring the wider history of painting and includes a broad range of painted works, from stained glass to items of costume.
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