The word ‘miniature’ comes from Latin word ‘minium’ this means 'to colour with red lead'. Definition: a small or reduced copy; a small scale version of anything; a painting on a very small scale.

Edward VI

Miniature painting is a very detailed form of painting that has its origins way back in history appearing in many cultures including illustrations on the papyrus rolls of ancient Egypt and later on manuscripts and medals from the Roman Empire. The early middle ages saw a huge increase in the use of illustrations with the production of illuminated manuscripts and books.

The fifteen hundreds saw the emergence of the portrait miniature and for the first time these type of paintings were portable. Portrait miniatures began to flourish and were hugely popular during the 17th century and 18th centuries. Long before the days of photographs these tiny paintings were used to introduce people to one another, a wealthy nobleman proposing the marriage of his daughter might send an official messenger over great distances with her portrait, to be approved by potential suitors.

As miniatures became more accessible even sailors and soldiers started to carry miniatures of their loved ones while absent from home, as a wife might keep one of her husband while he was away. Miniatures were painted to be viewed and held closely, to be given away as tokens of loyalty and love.

After the days of painting on parchment, the first real miniaturists painted on stretched vellum and used watercolour pigments but in time and certainly into the 18th century, miniatures were also painted enamel and ivory.

Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun

New uses were put to the miniature portrait often mounted into a piece of jewelry or locket or inserted in to the lids of small trinket of snuff boxes made of ivory or metal. Larger portraits were displayed in small cabinets.

Black Cat

In the second half of the 19th century, with the development of the daguerreotype (an early type of photograph) there was a massive decline in popularity of the miniatures. Artists themselves began to turn to photography to earn a living.

In to the present day, and antique portrait miniatures have become a very popular collectors item, attaining very high values. There is a strong emergence of new artists intrigued by the technique and versatility of miniature painting and there is once again a growing demand for the miniature paintings; from the traditional portrait miniature of a loved one, to studies of nature, landscapes and still life for use in dollhouses and replica room boxes. Reproductions of scaled down paintings from the old masters are sort after to achieve an authentic look.