Miniatures from Elizabeth Hazelwood
Miniature paintings developed from the art of illuminating medieval manuscripts. The word itself derives from ‘minium’, the Latin name for the red lead used to make a vivid vermilion paint which together with gold, truly does illuminate a page.
Another name given to a miniature paintings was ‘limnings” and their painters were called ‘limners’ - from the Latin ‘lumunare’ through the old English ‘limn’, meaning ‘to paint in little’.
Miniature portraits were popular in Tudor times. Often given to be carried on the person as a reminder of a loved one, rather than for exhibition. Holbein’s miniature depiction of Anne of Cleeves has become infamous for the inaccuracy of the beauty it portrayed.
Portraiture is only one of the subjects a miniaturist might choose. Landscapes, animals, still life - all are capable of reproduction as tiny works of art.
A miniature painting is produced by a painstaking process of applying paint in very fine brushstrokes called stippling and hatching, gradually building colour and tone with great attention to detail. Any painting medium can be used but always diluted to a very fine consistency.
Like medieval manuscripts, miniature paintings were originally painted on vellum and ivory, and although this can still be done, it is more common to use modern surfaces such as ivorine, fine board or ceramic.
