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Lewis Cooper

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Great to see these Tessa and Marjorie, if I’ve seen them before I haven’t remembered that they were miniatures.  I suspect others have miniatures lurking in their galleries. I struggle to imagine painting something 2 x 2 inches big (inappropriate word), but Tessa’s done several.  My Monroe pic was 4 x 4 inches, that’s an area of 16 square inches to cover.  A very small pic, but Tessa’s are 4 square inches!  A quarter the size of my pic that i THOUGHT was tiny.

Tessa Gwynne

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Sounds like a challenge lurking there Lew! Incidentally I recall seeing a couple of excellent exhibitions of miniature paintings at the Mall Galleries in London, where they are a secondary to the exhibition in the main part of the gallery, which I had gone to see. They were fascinating to see and it is amazing to see the skill of artists who produce these little beauties-so professional.

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Lewis Cooper

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Some more miniatures... Susan Weber - Sistine Chapel - 4 x 5 inches. Beverley Abbot - 4 x 5 inches. Pip Walters art. Suzy Mikusevich -oils - 6 x 4 Tim Bowers - tiger by the tale. Stephen Overy. Gina Morton. Jenny Musker.
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Russell Edwards

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Very clever, they must have perfect eyesight and extremely steady hands.
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George Cutter

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I particularly like the wonderful paintings by Gina Morton especialy the one of the children with the chickens, but all the paintings have been very impressive.
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Lewis Cooper

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Yes, I like Gina Morton's work, here's a couple more... 3 x 2.5 inches. Tim Bowers is an illustrator mainly of children's books, some of which he writes himself.  He creates normal sized works, but is also a keen miniaturist.  He paints acrylic on board. 3.5 x 4.5 inches. The painting is 4 x 3 inches. In this one he's painted a faux mount, and has the character extending over the 'mount'. 5 x 3 inches. A famous self portrait by Nicolas Hilliard, dating from 1577.

Tessa Gwynne

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Gina Morton’s work is wonderful. I love the children at the gypsy caravan, hard to believe that size!
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Marjorie Firth

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As I said earlier, I’m a bit of a sucker for the frames. The paintings are 3”x3” and 3”x3.5”. Not intricate but enjoyable to do. I love the Nicholas Hilliard above - and of course the frame!😁
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Lewis Cooper

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Yes, the frames make all the difference.  This one intrigued me, it dates from 1539.  Back then miniatures were often framed in ivory and came  with a carved lid.  These things were often kept in pockets, or whatever passed as a pocket in those days.  Few of these boxes have survived... ...it is, of course, the famous miniature painted by Hans Holbein of Anne of Cleves.  Henry VIII sent him to bring back a true likeness.  Holbein did that, but famously Henry did NOT like her looks when he met her. Some more historic miniatures.  Lady Caldwell painted by John Smart in 1786... Sir Robert Henley painted by Robert Cooper in 1659.  Watercolour on ivory. 2.75 x 2.25 inches. in those days it was fashionable to have a painting of your lover's eye...just the eye... A modern painting in a fairly traditional frame for miniatures... Joyce Rogerson, UK artist.  3 x 2 inches. I prefer the square frames with a mount... ..painted by Tim Bowers.  Gouache on board.  4 x 5 inches.

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Marjorie Firth

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Oh, some of those frames! Seriously, I think I like best the older miniatures, the portraits. Lady Caldwell, beautiful! Holbein - the painter of royalty, so amazing to think about.

Tessa Gwynne

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Interesting comments on the frames which in many cases occupy more area than the paintings in them! Of course on this site we don’t usually see the framed stage. Those last two chosen by Marjorie are lovely.
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Lewis Cooper

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For me at least, the frames for miniatures is part of the attraction.  It's important for any art of course, more so for these tiny pictures.  Marjorie's two framed examples above are little gems.  When I'm out and about I find myself on the lookout for little frames.  Here's one I found a while back, with a velvet mount... In looking up miniature art I was surprised how widespread it still is, I'd imagined it to be a niche genre.  Not so.  I think it safe to say interest was maintained here in the UK with societies like the Hilliard and Royal Society of Miniature painters, and has now spread worldwide.  Florida has it's own society, and shows its 2025 entries with their frames.  Here's a few...  Sid Branham - oil on canvas - image 5.5 x 3.5. Laura Critchlow-acrylic on panel-2 x 3.5 inch image. Wyn Foland-acrylic on panel- 3.5 x 5.5 inch image. Eileen Bass -  watercolour on board - 1.75 inch square image. A couple more by Nicholas Hilliard... ...a portrait of his father - watercolour on vellum - 1,25 inch diameter image - 1577. A portrait of his wife Alice-2 inch diameter image - 1578. Other people have said there's a kind of intimacy with these little paintings that you can comfortably hold in the palm of your hand - frame included - I agree with that.  It's literally like holding a gem.
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