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Mexican Portrait Miniatures of Officer and Wife

$2,100List Price

About the Item

Intimate Portraits of an Era: Mexican Portrait Miniatures Object: Pair of Portrait Miniatures (Officer and Wife) Origin: Mexico Date: Circa 1845–1850 Medium: Oil on Board, Set in Original Gilt Wood Frames Dimensions: Frame: 5 3/4 inches high x 4 3/4 inches wide x 3/4 inches deep (14.6 cm x 12.1 cm); Sight: 4 1/2 inches x 3 3/4 inches (11.4 cm x 9.5 cm). Mid-Century Mexican Society This remarkable pair of oil-on-board miniatures offers a captivating and intimate look into the lives of a distinguished Mexican couple during the mid-19th century. The intricate detail and skilled artistry of these portraits place them squarely within a global tradition of miniature painting that flourished as a means of personal commemoration and social representation. Set against a shared backdrop of serene, rolling hills and verdant fields, the portraits convey a sense of a tranquil, perhaps rural, life despite their subjects' formal attire. The officer is presented as a figure of authority and poise, seated in a Federal-style chair. His formal military uniform, with its striking white and red collar, speaks to his military status and patriotism in a period of great national change for Mexico, including the recent Mexican-American War (1846–1848). The dramatic sunset behind him adds a romantic and heroic quality to his depiction. Fashion and Status His wife, in a complementary pose, exudes elegance and wealth. Her dark, low-cut dress provides a sober canvas for her stunning gold and pearl jewelry—including large, diamond-shaped earrings, a multi-stranded necklace, and a bracelet. These accessories not only showcase her high social standing but also highlight the exquisite detail with which the artist rendered her portrait. Her hairstyle and dress reflect the fashion trends of the period immediately preceding the Second Mexican Empire. Miniature portraits were highly valued during this period, often exchanged as tokens of affection or carried while traveling. They served as a tangible link between loved ones and a public declaration of one's identity and social status. These paintings, preserved in their gilt wood frames, are more than just likenesses; they are historical artifacts that provide a window into the fashion, social conventions, and personal relationships of a 19th-century Mexican elite. Reference Miniature Portraiture in the Americas: (For context on the genre's popularity in post-colonial elite society). (Ref: NY10612-puu)

Dimensions:
Height: 5.75 in (14.61 cm)Width: 4.75 in (12.07 cm)Depth: 0.75 in (1.91 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Wood
Period:
Mid-19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1840-50
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Downingtown, PA
Reference Number:
Seller: NY10612-puu1stDibs: LU861041762632

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