Historic 18th and 19th-century miniature portraits sell for thousands at auction
A COLLECTION of 18th and 19th-century portrait miniatures generated huge interest this month when they went under the hammer at Anthemion Auctions in Cardiff. The nine oval miniatures, which were painted onto ivory and enamel, were part of the estate of the late Mrs GJ Stepney-Gulston, of historic Derwydd Mansion in Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire. The mansion was once owned by a Tudor knight and is said to have sheltered Welsh King Henry VII in the 15th-century, prior to the battle of Bosworth
Field. The cultural and historic significance of the estate means that items from the mansion are in high demand; a large collection of the residual contents of the mansion having previously been sold by Anthemion for in excess of £50,000.
Portrait miniatures first appeared at the
French and English Courts in the 1520s, and they had the unique appeal of being portable, whilst also offering a realistic likeness to their subjects. During the 15th and 16th centuries, they were used by the monarchy, sometimes being presented in ceremonies, and likenesses of Elizabeth I were sometimes worn by her wealthier subjects as a sign of their loyalty.
In the 18th century, miniatures first began to be painted on ivory instead of vellum, and the period saw much experimentation in technique, including roughening the ivory and altering the qualities of the paint to improve its adherence. Perfecting the art of miniature painting became a genteel pastime, with pieces displayed by the more successful artists at the Royal Academy of Art’s annual exhibition. Many chose celebrity sitters for their pieces, to increase their popularity, and many young artists made their living by creating miniature keepsakes of their client’s loved ones.
The portrait miniatures sold at auction depicted mainly members of the historic Gulston family, including the sister and daughter of Joseph Gulston, a boyhood portrait, and a portrait of the king of Sweden. The enamel miniatures are attributed to Christian Friedrich Zincke, a German miniature painter who came to London in the 18th century to work at the studio of Charles Boit. Working with many of the capital’s most fashionable clients, he went on to become the most successful enamel painter of his era.
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