German Miniature Portrait of a Bearded Man

A distinguished gentleman in a dark blue cloak gazes thoughtfully from this magnificently executed German miniature painting composed with oil on metal. The art of the miniature spans over 400 years, finding popularity in the early 16th century when they first appeared in European courts. Miniatures such as this were commissioned by important, wealthy patrons and often used as a means to record an individual's likeness or mementos of important life events.

Circa 1820

Miniature: 3 3/8" diameter
Frame: 6 5/8" diameter