Portrait of Amelia, Wife of John Opie, R.A.
Medium
Enamel
Dimensions
19.1 × 15.6 cm (7 1/2 × 6 1/8 in.)
Classification
miniature painting
Department
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
20828
Art Historical Context
This delicate miniature portrait, painted in 1798 by Henry Pierce Bone, captures Amelia, the wife of British artist John Opie, R.A. Measuring just .1 by 15.6 centimeters, the work presents an intimate likeness in a format often commissioned as personal mementos among artistic and literary circles in late Georgian Britain. Executed in enamel on a metal support, the medium allowed artists to achieve luminous colors and exceptional durability through repeated firings in a kiln. Miniature enamel portraits like this one were prized for their jewel-like finish and resistance to fading, distinguishi...