Miniature

The fashion for eye miniatures – or lover’s eyes – is said to have begun with a politically and socially unacceptable royal affair.

Emma Rutherford admits to being “a very boring child” who became fascinated by history at the age of 10 or 11.

What is thought to be a lost portrait of Maria de’ Medici (1575-1642) as a young woman has been discovered by dealer Nick Cox of Period Portraits.

Event that filled the void left by Art & Antiques for Everyone is back at Birmingham NEC after its debut last year

In a joint portrait miniature exhibition by Emma Rutherford of The Limner Company and Nick Cox of Period Portraits a depiction of Jane Seymour by Wenceslas Hollar (1607-77) is among the highlights.

The well-known miniature portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh by Nicholas Hilliard (c.1547-1619) in the National Portrait Gallery was painted c.1585, the year after Raleigh was knighted.

A ‘lost’ late 16th century portrait miniature by Italian painter Lavinia Fontana (1552-1614) has been rediscovered by an art dealer.

Tiny portrait thought to show a Spanish noblewoman was bought at a local school in the 1970s

The most remarkable result at Cheffins’ Fine Art Sale in Cambridge was provided by a group of four ‘English School’ plumbago on vellum portrait miniatures.

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

Emma Rutherford, the portrait miniature specialist formerly of Philip Mould who went solo earlier this year, is holding her second pop-up exhibition this week.

A portrait miniature previously bought on eBay has been knocked down at an Australian auction for 30-times more than the original price.

This 19th century watercolour on ivory portrait miniature depicts Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Seton (1814-52) of the 21st Fusiliers.

Portrait miniature specialist Emma Rutherford has launched her own firm after 15 years working with Philip Mould & Company.

Although catalogued simply as an 18th century English School miniature, this portrait of an Indian prince is discretely signed and dated JS 1793.