Ivory Miniature Painting of 18th C. Hunting Party

Fine Art : Paintings : Miniatures

 

An exceptional late 18th or early 19th century miniature watercolor painting on ivory of a French hunting party returning with the day’s quarry. The painting is set against a pastoral background and is finely detailed with captivating figures, including the almost comical figure of a white horse in the foreground relieving himself in the grass. This painting was meant to capture the exuberance of a successful hunt, and the relief of returning home safely to the comforts of a beautiful home with plenty to eat and celebrate. It is a beautiful and charming touchstone to aristocratic country life in the 18th century.

Miniature paintings came into popularity in Europe during the 16th century as a means of introducing an image of someone who was often far away. The first miniaturists used watercolor painted on stretched vellum and it wasn’t until the late 18th century that skilled artists began painting on ivory. The 18th and 19th centuries produced a large number of portrait painters, some becoming very famous, especially if they were patronized by the aristocracy. Most of these painters were very prolific, producing hundreds of works in their lifetime. George Engleheart (1750-1829) a famous 18th century portrait painter is known to have produced over 4,500 miniatures. Miniature painting began to decline in the middle of the 19th century with the discovery of the daguerreotype, but have consistently remained popular with collectors.

The painting is set into a wooden frame with a brass fillet and is in excellent condition with a protective glass cover; size of image 3 ½” W x 3” H, size of frame 7 ½” W x 6 ¾” H.

Item ID: PS06-09-08-03