Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1920-05-04
A WORD ABOUT THE
OLD MINIATURES
EXHIBITED TO-DAY
tcontlnued From Page Fourl

the word miniature. Miniatures were
introduced into England during the
first half of the sixteenth century.
II may be interesting to know that
there still exists at the Cathedral of
San Marco in Florence an exquisite
miniature by Fra Angelica. Two
friends OF Giotto mentioned by Dante.
Oderigi of Agobbio and Franco Bal
ongnese were miniaturists to the Pope
and glorified some splendid books for
the Vatican library. An increasing
interest is shown OF late years in this
line of portraiture and>a larger and
more intelligent appreciation is given
to me few oil dones we are fortunate
enough TO find preserved. The pres
en- is an age of renewals and a re-
generation OF the all but dead art.
Miniature portrait painting, though
described as in little is by no means
a lesser art
The Court OF Henry the Seventh
had its official miniature painter, as
did almost all the courts OF Europe,
and the most extrayagant prices were
paid for them. Early in the sixteenth
century this form of likeness acquir-
ed a distinct position and we have
no difficulty in tracing its growth to
the present time. Hans Holbein we
may claim to be the first miniature
painter, who died in London in 1913
and one of his pictures in little pre-
served TO us through all these years,
may we'll be considered veritable
treasure. The name Clouet may be
said to head the list of miniature
painters in France, whose grandson,
Francois Clouet became court painter
and has left us so many miniatures
and quaint drawings. The first minia-
aure painter whom we may rightly so
call, belonging to England was Nicho-
las Hillard.
Many interesting examples of his
art may be seen in Windsor Castle.
A name that should be known and
revered is Isaac Oliver, died in 1907.
whose portrait of James |. served for
a model to Rayburn and Anthony Van
dyke when they painted the portrait of
the King after his death. Oliver
painted Jane Seymour and William
Shakespeare. The names of Samuel
Cooper, Thomas Hoskins and Flatman
and Charles Frazier are well known.
L uif ioho =
Cosway has left miniatures exquisite
in coloring and composition. One who
owns a Cosway owns a priceless
treasure. p
Such names as John Smart and
Samuel Shelley possessed undoubtable
talent. as well as James Nixon, Henry
Bone, Sir Henry Raeburn and other
miniaturists of high rank. The cele-
brated Isabey claimed he had painted
every important character in Europe
while painter to the court of Napolean
the First. Andrew Robertson, next in
order of the time, greets us with a
beautiful and highly refined work and
may be fairly regarded as link be-
I
his brother, Archibald Robertson
came to this country and wrote and
painted as we'll, and il is a strange
coincidence that Edward G. NAL
borne should have been born the same
year. l717. at Newport, R. |.
This great miniature painter lived
in Charlestown, S. c.. for many years.
which accounts for the numerous por-
traits from his brush found there The
miniatures that have come down to us
from colonial times are indeed preci-
Gus gems and heirlooms full of rom
ance. arecalling the history of early
American painters and personages-
the elegance and dignity of the men,
and the great beauty of the women
portrayed by Malborne. Frazier, c. w.
Peale, James Peale, Singleton Copley
Turnbuli and such foreign artists as
ST Menim or Cosway, on Isabey.
"The art of niniture painting APP
peals TO us especially because it is the
most personal and conveys to our
minds more completely the realities of
the past. In it we see reflected the
fashion, the vanfties. the graces and
the quaintness of our ancestors, and.
in the miniatures of medivial manu-
scripts we have mirrored to US the
religious and social life of each period
which adds historical value we cam
not overestimate. IL
at may be of interest to note that
Annapolis and Anne Arundel county
treasure many interesting heirlooms
in miniatures painted by no lesser
artists than Cosway or an Isabey,
Malbourne or a Peale."