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.
Click on the images below for larger versions and more information.
A gift in your will
You may not have thought of including a gift to a museum in your will, but the V&A is a charity and legacies form an important source of funding for our work. It is not just the great collectors and the wealthy who leave legacies to the V&A. Legacies of all sizes, large and small, make a real difference to what we can do and your support can help ensure that future generations enjoy the V&A as much as you have.
MoreShop online
The Portrait Miniature in England
A fascinating account of the development of English miniature painting featuring masterpieces from the V&A's collection, which contains some of th…
Buy nowEvent - Masterpieces of Chinese Painting 700-1900
Sat 26 October 2013 10:00
EXHIBITION: Presenting one of the world’s greatest artistic traditions, Masterpieces of Chinese Painting 700-1900 will be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see rare surviving works of art drawn from collections around the world.
More details
