Portrait of Frances, Countess of Essex
c. 1750/60
Medium
Enamel on copper
Dimensions
3.9 × 4.8 cm (1 1/2 × 1 7/8 in.); Framed: 5.1 × 4 cm (2 × 1 9/16 in.)
Classification
miniature painting
Department
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
9686
Art Historical Context
Step into the intimate world of 18th-century portraiture with Nathaniel Hone's *Portrait of Frances, Countess of Essex* (c. 1750/60). This exquisite miniature captures the poised elegance of the aristocratic Frances Seymour, Countess of Essex, a prominent figure in British high society. Hone, an-born artist and Royal Academy founder known for his lively portraits, renders her with a delicate charm reflective of the Rococo style—soft features, refined attire, and a subtle gaze that invites viewers to lean in close. Crafted in enamel on copper, this tiny gem measures just 3.9 × 4.8 cm, making i...