The portrait miniature—a precious, hand-held painting, exchanged as a token of love or remembrance—has long been cherished for its ability to connect people. This book reveals the extraordinary stories, artistic achievement, and cultural and political impact behind these tiny artworks.
This vibrant history of miniature painting, from its fifteenth-century origins to the early twentieth century, links art, fashion, and society in a captivating tale of identity and representation. The Portrait Miniature expands the story to explore the genre’s global reach and highlights the important role of women in its development. Illustrated with miniatures shown at or close to their actual size, as well as enlarged details that allow the reader to revel in the painters’ skill, this book celebrates some of the most sophisticated portraits ever accomplished.
Reviews
A striking survey of portrait miniatures across history… The authors challenge notions of the portrait miniature as “a distinctly British art form’ with vivid examples from around the globe… Welcome attention is also given to female artists… For art history lovers, this is one to treasure.
— Publishers Weekly
Contributors
Damiët Schneeweisz
Author
Damiët Schneeweisz is assistant curator of paintings and drawings at the Victoria and Albert Museum, and a specialist in early modern European and American art and empire.
Rosalind McKever
Author
Rosalind McKever is curator of paintings and drawings at the Victoria and Albert Museum. She specializes in modern European art, its reception in Britain and North and South America, and its relationship with fashion and design.
Adriana Concin
Author
Adriana Concin is a research fellow and former assistant curator of paintings and drawings at the Victoria and Albert Museum. She is a specialist in early modern portraiture and the history of collecting.
