MiniArt Supply
INSPIRATION

For a little inspiration, these are a few projects
by our talented customers (using some of our products).

Also see some interesting miniature art stories below.

"Barney" by J.Schrader on ivorine sample (~1x1")
"Saucy Succulents" by P.Palco on new adhesive-backed ivorine	"The Patriot" by C. Martinetto on ivorine & round Pr300 frame
Spotted Great Dane on ivorine by B. de Loiselle	Parson Russell Terrier by B. de Loiselle
Art on bone box "Tulips at Giverny" by M.D.Conner	Jefferson on fired porcelain by J.Riley
Watercolor on vellum Portrait of his mother by L.Mercier	Watercolor & Gem Stone Pigments on vellum by D.Gillespie
Stitchery by C.Globensky	Roses on ivorine by J.Godber
Eye Portraits by R.Williams in round wood frames (Pr300)	Painted portrait framed for O.Linder
Stitcheries by Ms. McAllister, frames acquired by her son	Photo on Porcelain, frame for M.Birk
Art by C.Carney	Room signs in New York City hotel
Classic Atlantic Salmon Fly by C.Smith using a ready-made mat	Minis from India Customer completed her collection with FMF-2 frames

Madame Victoire

I met someone at a miniature Society function who purchased a miniature from a flea market. It's framed in what appears to be an antique French frame and she assumed that the miniature was a print. When she removed the back of the frame, however, she discovered the painting was done on some leather-like surface stretched over a hard surface that might be ivory or some kind of glass. The words “Madame Victoire and “Nattier” were on the back with other things penciled in by the previous owner(s). “Nattier” is also the signature on the miniature. Through a magnifying glass, it appears that the miniature was created from a series of tiny lines that may have been done by a one-bristle brush used during that period.

She received a little feedback from the National Gallery of Art and from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. She researched at the Library of Congress and found the lovely lady in a biography on the artist Jean-Marc Nattier (1685-1766). It was written in French so she had a few pages translated. It pertains to a painting in the Louvre titled, “Portrait de Madame Victoire de France par Jean-Marc Nattier, 1748” which is a larger work, 81 x 64. She learned that Mr. Nattier was the official court painter for Louis XV and the subject’s full name was “Marie Louise Therese Victoria detta Madam Victoria, daughter of Luigi XV.”

This small work may have been done from the larger work, as a token or memento. The owner is still researching, but is having a grand time sleuthing info on this little work, which she hopes is the real deal!

William Jenkins Worth

I was contacted by a person who was interested in having the glass replaced over the hair on the back of this miniature. I don't have the resources or knowledge to replace glass on such a precious item, so I referred her to the Wiebold Company who restores miniatures. They very beautifully cleaned the frame, replaced the fine glass over the hair, and added a bail to the top of the frame.

This is such a beautiful historical miniature and I was honored to hold it in my hand. It is the portrait of William Jenkins Worth, who is the great-great-grandfather of the miniature's owner. It was painted for his fiancee to wear as a pendant around her neck, and that's his hair in the back. Mementos such as this were often painted as keepsakes before men went off to war. His signature and 1815 are scratched into the back of the frame. Worth was a much decorated war hero and had a long interesting career. His remains are interred in a monument on Worth Square, a small piece of land in NYC between Fifth Ave. and Broadway at 25th Street. (I'll look for that next time I'm in New York!) Each spike of the fence around the memorial is topped with a plumed helmet. Several locations are named after Worth, including Fort Worth, Texas. What a cool miniature!

(read more about Worth on Wikipedia)

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