The Decorative Arts: Portrait Miniatures

A Portrait Miniature is a small, portable painting designed as a memento of a beloved or admired person. The history of this art form began in 16th Century England and continued to be fashionable both in England and on the Continent throughout the next three centuries. In the mid-19th Century, the 400-year tradition of portrait miniatures fell into decline with the invention of photography. The majority of NOMA's Portrait Miniature collection is from the notable Latter-Schlesinger Collection of more than 200 examples.