Eye Miniature 1800 - 1829

This anonymous miniature from the early 19th century, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a striking example of the "eye" miniature genre. The work features a single, life-size eye, meticulously rendered in detail within an oval frame. This genre, popular during the 18th and 19th centuries, was often used as a memento mori, serving as a poignant reminder of mortality. The small size of the miniature, measuring only 6x14mm, emphasizes the fleeting nature of life.