Portrait of a Woman
Medium
Enamel
Dimensions
Oval, 1 3/4 x 1 3/8 in. (44 x 35 mm)
Classification
Miniatures
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Louis V. Bell, in memory of her husband, 1925
Accession Number
25.106.34
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate enamel miniature, titled *Portrait of a Woman*, offers a charming glimpse into the intimate world of European portraiture. Measuring just 1¾ by 1⅜ inches, the oval format was ideally suited for personal keepsakes, often set into lockets, snuffboxes, or jewelry. Created by an unknown Swiss painter, the work belongs to a long tradition of small-scale portraits that allowed sitters to carry a loved one’s image wherever they traveled. Enamel as a medium was prized for its luminous color and remarkable durability. Artists applied layers of powdered glass to a metal base and fired it ...