Portrait of a Man 1775 - 1785

This "Portrait of a Man" was painted by Louis Marie Sicardi in the late 18th or early 19th century, and is made of watercolor and gum, on ivory. The technique of painting miniatures on ivory emerged in the 1700s, a period where both craft and art thrived under aristocratic patronage. Its smooth surface allows for incredible detail, as we can see here in the man’s powdered wig and military attire. The delicate work required painstaking precision, each layer of translucent watercolor carefully applied. But it’s the frame that really catches my eye, studded with gems. Consider the labor involved in sourcing, cutting, and setting each of those stones, drawing on both skilled craftsmanship and global trade networks. It reminds us that even the most intimate objects are embedded in complex systems of production and consumption. This miniature asks us to reconsider how we distinguish between portraiture, jewelry, and even fashion.