Portrait of a Gentleman
c. 1730/40
Medium
Oil on copper
Dimensions
12.4 × 10.2 cm (4 7/8 × 4 in.)
Classification
miniature painting
Department
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
110245
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
This intimate Portrait of a Gentleman, painted by an anonymous English artist around 1730–1740, captures the refined elegance of early Georgian society. Measuring just under five inches tall, the work exemplifies the miniature portrait tradition that flourished in Britain during this period. These small-scale images served as personal keepsakes, often exchanged among family and friends or worn as jewelry, allowing individuals to carry a likeness of a loved one wherever they went. The choice of oil on copper as a medium is particularly significant. Copper provided a smooth, non-absorbent surfa...