Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Gifts of Grandeur: Miniature of an Unknown Man, 1619


The V&A
Miniature in an enamel locket
Peter Oliver, 1619
The Victoria & Albert Museum



This miniature portrait bust depicts a dark man in a ruffed collar set into a Seventeenth-century oval gold locket, the convex back and front of which are enameled in a translucent dark blue. 
This is the work of Peter Oliver (1589-1647) and dates to about 1619.  We know this because it is inscribed “P.O./1610.”  We don’t, however, know the subject of the portrait and can only guess who he might be.



No comments: