A Patrician Couple
Medium
Ivory
Dimensions
Inside lid and bottom of ivory box, 3 x 2 1/4 in. (77 x 55 mm) and 2 7/8 x 2 1/8 in. (73 x 53 mm)
Classification
Miniatures
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Victor Wilbour Memorial Fund, 1968
Accession Number
68.156
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled inside the lid and base of a delicate ivory box, *A Patrician Couple* two intimate miniature portraits painted by an anonymous Italian Venetian. Measuring just 3 x 2¼ inches and 2⅞ x 2⅛ inches, these tiny gems depict a nobleman and noblewoman in elegant attire, their poised gazes and refined features with remarkable precision. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Paintings department since 1968, thanks to the Victor Wilbour Fund, this artwork exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of Venetian miniature painting. Ivory, a luxurious and rare medium for portraits, allowed for a sm...