Portret van een onbekende man 1810 - 1820

Alexandre De Latour painted this tiny portrait of an unknown man, using watercolors on ivory, sometime in the early 19th century. The painting’s small scale is key to its appeal. Highly prized for their intimacy, miniatures like this were often worn as jewelry or kept close, offering a tangible connection to a loved one. The smooth surface of the ivory support enabled Latour to render fine details, from the sitter’s fashionable, tousled hair to the delicate fabric of his cravat. Consider the labor involved: grinding pigments, preparing the ivory, and then the painstaking application of paint, layer upon layer. These demanding processes elevated the miniature to a high art form, yet one also tied to personal adornment. The gold frame completes the piece, signaling its preciousness and worth. Ultimately, this portrait reminds us that even seemingly straightforward images are the result of skillful making, reflecting social values and material culture.