Portrait of a Gentleman
c. 1740
Medium
Oil on enamel
Dimensions
H.: 5.4 cm (2 1/8 in.)
Classification
miniature painting
Department
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
22837
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Art Institute of Chicago's collection of European Painting and Sculpture, *Portrait of a Gentleman* by J. Lacon, circa 1740, exemplifies the exquisite world of 18th-century miniature painting. Measuring just 5.4 cm in height, this oil-on-enamel gem captures the refined likeness of an unidentified sitter, likely a member of the European aristocracy. Created during the Rococo era's emphasis on elegance and intimacy, such portraits were prized personal treasures—often set into lockets, brooches, or snuffboxes for daily wear. The choice of oil on enamel as a medium was revolutionar...