Portrait miniature of a Lady early 1780s

George Engleheart (1750/3-1829)

Watercolour on ivoryOv

Oval, height 1 ¾ inches; 4.4 cm

This portrait miniature of a lady by Engleheart dates from the early-1780s, when most miniaturists were still confining themselves to smaller discs of ivory. The limited palette – with its reliance on tone rather than on colour - is typical of this period. A miniature of this size would usually be worn, either as a pendant or set into a bracelet as here. Although the colours are limited they have been beautifully preserved by the original sharkskin case sold with the miniature.