A brief history of portrait miniatures

​

Portrait miniatures evolved during the 16th century from the work of limners when creating illuminated manuscripts. Painted onto vellum and later ivory they were first popular among the English and French elites before spreading across the rest of Europe and remained highly popular until the development of photography in the mid-19th century. They were especially valuable in introducing people to each other over distances; a nobleman proposing the marriage of his daughter might send a courier with her portrait to visit potential suitors. Soldiers and sailors might carry miniatures of their loved ones while traveling, or a wife might keep one of her husband while he was away. As small as 40 mm × 30 mm in size, portrait miniatures were often used as personal mementos, inset into items of jewellry or snuff boxes. The miniature shown is of Queen Elizabeth 1st.