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Summarized briefly, miniature painting is a form of painting
that is deeply rooted in many cultures and spans centuries. The Lathams are a family of American artists
practicing it in today’s modern art market of galleries and exhibitions. As an artist, Rebecca Latham as well as her
mother, Karen, and sister, Bonnie, strive for detail in their painting. Studying with a Flemish master, they have
developed their styles for painting extreme realism. Their works, both large and small, are
painted “in miniature”.
Early Beginnings
Miniature painting is a traditional style of art that is
very detailed, often referred to as painting or working “in miniature”. Because of their origins as illuminations,
they are also painted to have as smooth of a surface as possible. (It is also suggested that miniature art may
have been influenced by the medals of ancient Rome
as well) Miniature art can be traced
back to ancient Egyptian manuscripts on papyrus scrolls. Monks are also often highlighted for their
contributions to early miniature painting with their beautifully illuminated
manuscripts such as the Celtic Book of Kells and England's Lindisfarne Gospels
(both of which measure around 9" x 12"). Some early manuscripts contain miniatures on
their pages that depict beautiful arrangements of life sized flower
arrangements on their borders. The
history of the art is also seen throughout the world in various other cultures.
Miniature painting began out of necessity for illustrating
documents and manuscripts to aid those reading them during a time when many
were not able to, before printing was invented.
The miniature helped to convey the story and meaning of the written
word. Therefore, the art of the miniature
is directly connected to the book arts.
The various sized illuminations (pictures) were cut out of these books
or documents so that they could be carried more easily. Later, developing from the carried miniature,
portrait miniature artists were commissioned to paint small portraits –
paintings that were used as we use wallet sized photographs today. These sizes
of miniature paintings became popular with collectors and are often referred to
as “hand held miniatures”. Portrait
miniatures were painted in larger sizes as well, for example master
miniaturist, Nicholas Hilliard, Peter Oliver, and Sir Charles William Ross all
painted works that were of a larger size.
Sizes
Miniature painting is sometimes confused and assumed that
the pieces must be small or depict subjects on a smaller scale to be considered
miniature art, though this is not the case.
It is helpful to keep in mind that the origins of the term "miniature"
have nothing to do with a size. The word
miniature comes from the terms 'minium' (used for the red lead paint used in
illuminated manuscripts) and 'miniare' (Latin for 'to color with red lead').
Miniature painting is a style and technique of painting, and
as such, a wall sized work could be painted “in miniature”. Authors of the Yale University Press
publication, “The English Miniature” have stated that miniatures have been
painted large and some works are even considered to be gigantic. Numerous faculty members of the Victoria
& Albert Museum
in London confirm that miniature
paintings are not restricted to smallness.
Larger sized miniature paintings are documented throughout history and
are recognized today, though painting larger works in miniature is more
difficult and time consuming than a smaller piece if the same attention to
detail is observed. Miniature art is
also unique in that it was and is often used on objects, such as the Russian
lacquer boxes that are beautiful examples of Russian miniatures.
Exhibitions
Today, there are miniature art societies in western society
to help promote and preserve traditional miniature art and the “spirit of
miniature”. Their exhibitions feature
the hand held miniature paintings (or sculptures) and each exhibition has its
own unique guidelines and rules for artists showing in their exhibit. Some of these rules limit the size of work to
be no larger than a set square inch. Others limit the size of a subject, such
at the 1/6th scale rule that a subject may not be painted larger than 1/6th of
it's natural size, or the 2” rule, that an object in the painting may not
exceed 2”. Scale rules were initially
put in place as a guide for artists starting out in miniature art. There are also many framing restrictions for
society miniature works as well. All of
these rules are put into place by each show for their own individual and unique
exhibitions, and do not define what miniature art is.
Artists painting miniatures throughout history were not
restricted in their artwork by scale as their subjects were painted to any
measurement or scale that the artist deemed pleasing to the eye and their
patrons, for both manuscripts and other miniatures. Subjects that are naturally small in size,
such as butterflies and insects, were painted life sized. Thus the 1/6th scale rule that is used by
some shows and societies today unfortunately causes a bit of confusion to those
new to the art form who commonly assume that is it a part of a mechanical
criteria of the miniature's definition.
The world's experts in miniatures do not recognize the rule as
legitimate, and view those embracing it as unknowledgeable, and dismiss them.
The term "miniature", as it addresses miniature
painting, is often confused with "miniaturize" and some miniature art
exhibitions do not refer to miniature as it's initial meaning of techniques,
but rather the size of the painting (miniaturized painting). They are two very separate descriptions.
Miniature painting is an art form that is very rich in
history that continues today by artists from around the globe. The beautiful ornamental qualities of the
miniature should be preserved whether it be the intricate large pieces, or
intimate hand held works.
Many thanks to Joan Willies RMS, the Victoria
& Albert Museum,
& Patrick Noon.
[Article by Rebecca Latham]
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