Portrait miniatures and the Royal Academy
In 1768 a group of London-based artists established the Royal Academy of Arts. At the Academy's annual exhibitions miniaturists displayed their tiny works in a room crowded with large oil paintings. Many painted larger pieces and celebrity sitters to catch people's eye. Others emulated the full-length poses and rich colour of oils.
Growing national wealth encouraged the market for portraiture. Numerous young artists took up miniature painting, offering clients keepsakes of their loved ones. Many, like the Scotsman John Bogle, came to London to find work, but Thomas Hazlehurst found a lucrative market in his booming hometown, Liverpool.
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The Portrait Miniature in England
A fascinating account of the development of English miniature painting featuring masterpieces from the V&A's collection.
Buy nowEvent - Holbein to Hockney: Art in Britain at the V&A
Tue 22 January 2013 14:00
SHORT COURSE: Explore the rich and fascinating history of British art through examples held in the V&A’s unrivalled collection of paintings, drawings and prints.
