Dimensions: height 2.6 cm, width 2 cm, depth 0.4 cm
Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
This miniature portrait, likely of a daughter of George II of England, was created by an anonymous artist. In the 18th century, portrait miniatures like this one served important social functions. Beyond simple likenesses, they acted as tokens of affection, diplomatic gifts, or declarations of allegiance. As objects that were easy to carry, miniatures facilitated and reinforced kinship and political networks. The sitter's delicate features and fashionable dress speak to the importance of appearance in aristocratic society. We need to remember that portraits can be deceptive. To learn more, we can turn to resources like letters, diaries, and account books to uncover the complex social and institutional contexts in which the work was made.
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