Miniatures from the Rococo Period

The rococo portrait miniature was an elegant portrayal full of gracefulness and delicacy. In this exhibition of 177 works, the Tansey Miniatures Foundation provides the first comprehensive insight into miniature painting of this period.

Individual facial features are less important than the representation of a beautiful ideal, splendid clothing and a theatrical setting. Some of the ladies are flirting – using fans, masks and veils to cleverly conceal and reveal their attributes. Here we find ladies surrounded by real or imagined luxury; there they flee into a make-believe world where they dress up as shepherdesses, musicians or goddesses. 

Sometimes the portraits also convey a hidden message for the recipient of the miniature. Some of the sitters are members of ruling families. This provides us with a fascinating gallery of the people who influenced and helped to shape Europe’s history to a greater or lesser extent. All the works are documented in a comprehensive catalogue complete with essays on miniature painting of this period.

Period Rokoko read more...

Catalogue Rokoko read more...