Eye Miniature 1780 - 1844

This eye miniature was painted by Christian Horneman, probably in Denmark, at the turn of the 18th century. These highly personal tokens were fashionable across Europe at the time, particularly amongst the aristocracy and emerging middle classes. Considered declarations of love, remembrance or kinship, they gained popularity as the formality of portraiture began to wane. The intimate, and slightly unsettling, nature of the single eye allowed the wearer to carry a secret message that only the initiated would understand. Horneman would have been known for his delicate brushwork and his ability to capture the essence of his sitters, an ability that transferred well to these small, highly personal objects. As historians, we look to letters, diaries, and fashion plates to uncover the social rituals surrounding these objects, revealing the complex web of relationships they mediated. The meaning of art is never fixed but changes as society evolves and reshapes its values.