The Reflected Self: Portrait Miniatures,1550

The Reflected Self: Portrait Miniatures,1550 - 1850

Until Sun 23 Feb 2025 View Venues, Dates & Times

Exhibitions

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Portrait Miniatures, 1550-1850

Across a period exceeding 300 years, portrait miniature paintings created in Britain performed numerous functions. Not only did they serve as emblems of love and loyalty, they were also used as markers of royal favour and exchanged as diplomatic gifts between foreign courts.

Compton Verney’s new exhibition celebrates these exquisitely painted portable portraits, bringing together artwork from the gallery’s own collection with important loans from the Dumas Egerton Trust Collection and private lenders.

The exhibition also includes specially commissioned films, bringing to life the highly personal nature of the portraits. Work by contemporary artists - demonstrating the miniatures’ ongoing relevance and ability to captivate - also features.

Image: Simon Bevan