Antique Miniature portrait of a beautifully dressed woman in ivory frame
Antique miniature portrait of a beautifully dressed woman in blue with a wig and feathered hat. This portrait miniature appears to be painted on an ivory wafer thin sheet, and is framed in a bone inlaid frame. There is a small piece of darker bone missing from the upper left corner of the frame border. Frame is backed by aged newspaper which appears to have been cut open and taped closed.
The very first portrait miniatures date to the early sixteenth century, appearing on illuminated manuscripts. Artists painted tiny portraits in watercolor on velum, which were then glued down on card. Especially in the European royal courts, the little paintings were much loved. Before the invention of photography, this was the way to be able to view someone you loved when you were not with them.
During the “golden age” of portrait miniatures in the early 18th century. vellum was replaced by ivory. Ivory was much better for painting flesh tones for the little portraits than vellum. Ivory was the most favored base for portrait miniatures until the end of the 19th century.
Image size is 3 1/4" tall by 2 1/2" wide, framed size is 5 3/4" tall by 5" wide