 |
 Miniature Black Frame Reading Glasses for DOLLHOUSE Miniatures 1 12 Scale $2.98 Time Remaining: 8d 18h 15m Buy It Now for only: $2.98 |
 A Garden Gnome Reading Dolls House Miniature Garden 112 Scale Accessory $5.85 Time Remaining: 2d 19h 34m |
 Dollhouse Miniature 5 Resin Gnomes Set Working Reading Sleeping $29.99 Time Remaining: 15d 18h 38m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 |
 112 Dollhouse Miniature Reading Book Magazine Shelf $4.83 Time Remaining: 11d 2h 47m Buy It Now for only: $4.83 |
 Dollhouse Miniature reading room Antique Map Frame B10 $2.10 Time Remaining: 12d 4h 51m Buy It Now for only: $2.10 |
 Dollhouse Miniature Furniture Vintage Reading Book Set $2.99 Time Remaining: 26d 2h 58m Buy It Now for only: $2.99 |
 Miniature Reading Lamp Table Light Brass w 24K Plating LD014 $6.50 Time Remaining: 29d 3h 59m Buy It Now for only: $6.50 |
 112 Dollhouse Miniature Colorful Book Reading Book $1.92 Time Remaining: 22d 3h 16m Buy It Now for only: $1.92 |
 1802 WOMAN READING Dollhouse Art Miniature Picture $9.95 Time Remaining: 20d 22h 14m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 Dollhouse Miniature Bedroom Puss Boots Reading Book $1.99 Time Remaining: 4d 17h 19m Buy It Now for only: $1.99 |
 Dollhouse Miniature Half Reading Glasses $2.89 Time Remaining: 12d 17h 6m Buy It Now for only: $2.89 |
 Dollhouse Miniature Bedroom Reading Book w Inside Page $3.99 Time Remaining: 6d 17h 29m Buy It Now for only: $3.99 |
 LEATHER BLACK BIBLE DOLLHOUSE MINIATURE READING 1 12 SCALE $2.95 Time Remaining: 24d 22h 37m Buy It Now for only: $2.95 |
 Dollhouse Miniature Model READING ROOM DIY with Furniture Accessories Lighting $29.99 Time Remaining: 6d 15h 39m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 |
 Miniature Dollhouse Pair of Reading Glasses $3.59 Time Remaining: 10d 18h 45m Buy It Now for only: $3.59 |
 Miniature Reading Lamp Table Light Brass w 24K Plating LD028 $5.99 Time Remaining: 22d 5h 27m Buy It Now for only: $5.99 |
 Miniature Laminated Credit Cards for DOLLHOUSE Always Read Item Description $1.98 Time Remaining: 11d 52m Buy It Now for only: $1.98 |
 dollhouse miniature Berries your choice of 1 kind Handmade read listing $2.50 Time Remaining: 11d 22h 8m Buy It Now for only: $2.50 |
 YOUNG GIRL READING Miniature Dollhouse Art Picture $9.95 Time Remaining: 15d 17h 59m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 Dollhouse Miniature Artisan Reading Mouse Childrens Pillow $12.95 Time Remaining: 23d 16h 53m Buy It Now for only: $12.95 |
 Dollhouse Miniature VINTAGE RED Reading Room Wood Desk High Quality $9.35 Time Remaining: 17d 3h 53m Buy It Now for only: $9.35 |
 CHILD READING ANIMAL BOOK Dollhouse Miniature Picture $9.95 Time Remaining: 6d 21h 4m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 LEATHER BLACK BIBLE DOLLHOUSE MINIATURE READING 1 12 SCALE $2.95 Time Remaining: 24d 22h 33m Buy It Now for only: $2.95 |
 ROBIN HOOD STORY BOOK DOLLHOUSE MINIATURE READING 1 12 SCALE $1.99 Time Remaining: 24d 22h 53m Buy It Now for only: $1.99 |
 Miniature Toaster Pastry Box for DOLLHOUSEAlways Read Item Description $2.49 Time Remaining: 20d 12h 7m Buy It Now for only: $2.49 |
 MINIATURE GRANDMOTHER IN SEATED POSTION READING A BOOK RESIN FIGURE 112 SCALE $12.99 Time Remaining: 25d 19h 25m Buy It Now for only: $12.99 |
 Dollhouse Miniature Furniture World Globe Reading Room $7.99 Time Remaining: 12d 20h 59m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
 Miniature Vintage Look Paper Dolls DOLLHOUSE Always Read Item Description $2.98 Time Remaining: 1d 21h 43m Buy It Now for only: $2.98 |
 Miniature Dollhouse Reading Lamp White w Dark Base642 $7.49 Time Remaining: 16d 18h 21m Buy It Now for only: $7.49 |
 Dollhouse Miniature LEISURE READING ROOM Music Box DIY with Drawer Furniture $29.99 Time Remaining: 9d 15h 3m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 |
 SISTERS READING Dollhouse Picture FRAMED Miniature Art $6.95 Time Remaining: 9d 11h 48m Buy It Now for only: $6.95 |
 Miniature Wooden Filled Napkin Holder for DOLLHOUSE Always Read Item Description $5.98 Time Remaining: 18d 19h 39m Buy It Now for only: $5.98 |
 New Dolls House Ornament Miniature Figurine Reading 66 $15.62 Time Remaining: 16d 11h 27m Buy It Now for only: $15.62 |
 Miniature Medical Reference Books Black for DOLLHOUSE Always Read Description $7.98 Time Remaining: 11d 15h 19m Buy It Now for only: $7.98 |
 Miniature Pink Ceramic Casserole w Glass Lid DOLLHOUSE Read Description Below $8.19 Time Remaining: 11d 23h 1m Buy It Now for only: $8.19 |
 1 12 Victorian Dollhouse Miniature Table Lamp Desk Reading Light 12V Colorful $0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 21h 34m |
 Dollhouse Miniature Reading Room Wood Desk Rocking Chair Landing Clock Quality $15.80 Time Remaining: 11d 4h 32m Buy It Now for only: $15.80 |
 YOUNG GIRL READING Dollhouse Miniature Art Picture $12.95 Time Remaining: 17d 12h 45m Buy It Now for only: $12.95 |
 1 12 Vintage Dollhouse Miniature Pretty Color Light Desk Table Reading Lamp NEW $4.84 Time Remaining: 16d 10h 36m Buy It Now for only: $4.84 |
 Reading Room Sign Dollhouse Miniatures $6.00 Time Remaining: 3d 22h 16m Buy It Now for only: $6.00 |
 SISTERS READING Dollhouse Picture FRAMED Miniature Art $9.95 Time Remaining: 17d 11h 9m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 Jewish Dollhouse Miniature Childrens Book Reading Readiness Book $3.00 Time Remaining: 27d 13h 55m Buy It Now for only: $3.00 |
 CHRISTMAS STORY BOOKS 2 BOOK SET DOLLHOUSE MINIATURE READING 1 12 SCALE $1.99 Time Remaining: 24d 22h 50m Buy It Now for only: $1.99 |
 CHILDREN READING Dollhouse Picture FRAMED Miniature $12.95 Time Remaining: 2d 23h 16m Buy It Now for only: $12.95 |
 Dollhouse Miniature Vitage RED Reading Wood Desk Rocking Chair Landing Clock $15.80 Time Remaining: 17d 3h 8m Buy It Now for only: $15.80 |
 dollhouse miniature GRANNY READING BOOK GRANDMA FIGURE $12.99 Time Remaining: 4d 18h 34m Buy It Now for only: $12.99 |
 Victorian Girls Reading Book Dollhouse Miniature Picture $12.95 Time Remaining: 29d 20h Buy It Now for only: $12.95 |
 Clay Figurine Dollhouse Miniature Teddy Bear Book Reading $1.99 Time Remaining: 4d 14h 47m Buy It Now for only: $1.99 |
 READING Dollhouse Picture Victorian Miniature Art $9.95 Time Remaining: 24d 12h 12m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 Girl Book Reading Dollhouse Doll House Miniature Victorian Framed Picture MBG011 $14.95 Time Remaining: 29d 20h 38m Buy It Now for only: $14.95 |
 1935 WOMAN READING Miniature Dollhouse Picture ART $9.95 Time Remaining: 6d 21h 4m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 1 12 Victorian Dollhouse Miniature Table Lamp Desk Reading Light 12V Colorful $6.99 Time Remaining: 22d 8h 6m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
 dollhouse miniature READING TABLE FURNITURE FOR 2 NEW $14.99 Time Remaining: 4d 16h 44m Buy It Now for only: $14.99 |
 GIRL READING Dollhouse Picture Miniature FRAMED Art $9.95 Time Remaining: 14d 14h 44m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 SISTERS READING Picture Miniature FRAMED Dollhouse Art $12.95 Time Remaining: 9d 11h 48m Buy It Now for only: $12.95 |
 Miniature Quarter Scale Book Baby Buntings Easy Read $10.00 Time Remaining: 20d 17h 56m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 Victorian Lady Reading Book Dollhouse Miniature Framed Picture $12.95 Time Remaining: 29d 21h 37m Buy It Now for only: $12.95 |
 Renoir GIRL READING Framed Miniature Dollhouse Picture $9.95 Time Remaining: 12d 11h 57m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 DOLLHOUSE MINIATURE GIRL READING A BOOK PICTURE $4.99 Time Remaining: 19d 19h 15m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 |
 Dollhouse Miniature Reading Room Wood Desk High Quality $9.35 Time Remaining: 11d 4h 50m Buy It Now for only: $9.35 |
 Dollhouse Miniature Bedroom Reading Book w Inside Page $3.99 Time Remaining: 29d 4h 55m Buy It Now for only: $3.99 |
 Town Square Miniatures Sitting Grandmother Reading Dollhouse Figurine 4 MIB $14.45 Time Remaining: 23d 29m Buy It Now for only: $14.45 |
 Woman Reading Dollhouse Picture Miniature FRAMED Art $14.95 Time Remaining: 19d 23h 5m Buy It Now for only: $14.95 |
 Miniature Book Baby Buntings Easy Reading Book JDay $21.00 Time Remaining: 28d 19h 9m Buy It Now for only: $21.00 |
 Dollhouse Miniature Furniture Vintage Reading Book Set $2.99 Time Remaining: 24d 6h 45m Buy It Now for only: $2.99 |
 Dollhouse Miniature Meter Reading Box Fire Ext 1001 $5.98 Time Remaining: 19d 17h 46m Buy It Now for only: $5.98 |
 Miniature Collectible Read to me Grandpa Figurine $39.99 Time Remaining: 3d 15h 54m Buy It Now for only: $39.99 |
 Dollhouse Miniature Resin Man Sitting Reading a Book $13.49 Time Remaining: 15d 16h 55m Buy It Now for only: $13.49 |
Miniature Painting - What is Miniature Art
As an artist, Rebecca Latham as well as her mother, Karen, and sister, Bonnie, strive for detail in their painting. Studying with a Flemish master, they have developed their styles for painting extreme realism. Their works, both large and small, are painted “in miniature”.
Early Beginnings
Miniature painting is a traditional style of art that is very detailed, often referred to as painting or working “in miniature”. Because of their origins as illuminations, they are also painted to have as smooth of a surface as possible. (It is also suggested that miniature art may have been influenced by the medals of ancient Rome as well) Miniature art can be traced back to ancient Egyptian manuscripts on papyrus scrolls. Monks are also often highlighted for their contributions to early miniature painting with their beautifully illuminated manuscripts such as the Celtic Book of Kells and England's Lindisfarne Gospels (both of which measure around 9" x 12"). Some early manuscripts contain miniature paintings on their pages that depict beautiful arrangements of life sized flower arrangements on their borders. The history of miniature painting is also seen throughout the world in various other cultures.
Miniature painting began out of necessity for illustrating documents and manuscripts to aid those reading them during a time when many were not able to, before printing was invented. The miniature helped to convey the story and meaning of the written word. Therefore, the art of miniature painting is directly connected to the book arts. The various sized illuminations (pictures) were cut out of these books or documents so that they could be carried more easily. Later, developing from the carried miniature, portrait miniature artists were commissioned to paint small portraits – paintings that were used as we use wallet sized photographs today. These sizes of miniature paintings became popular with collectors and are often referred to as “hand held miniatures”. Portrait miniatures were painted in larger sizes as well, for example master miniaturist, Nicholas Hilliard, Peter Oliver, and Sir Charles William Ross all painted works that were of a larger size.
Sizes
Miniature painting is sometimes confused and assumed that the pieces must be small or depict subjects on a smaller scale to be considered miniature art, though this is not the case. It is helpful to keep in mind that the origins of the term "miniature" have nothing to do with a size. The word miniature comes from the terms 'minium' (used for the red lead paint used in illuminated manuscripts) and 'miniare' (Latin for 'to color with red lead').
Miniature painting is a style and technique of painting, and as such, a wall sized work could be painted “in miniature”. Authors of the Yale University Press publication, “The English Miniature” have stated that miniatures have been painted large and some works are even considered to be gigantic. Numerous faculty members of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London confirm that miniature paintings are not restricted to smallness. Larger sized miniature paintings are documented throughout history and are recognized today, though painting larger works in miniature is more difficult and time consuming than a smaller piece if the same attention to detail is observed. Miniature art is also unique in that it was and is often used on objects, such as the Russian lacquer boxes that are beautiful examples of Russian miniature painting.
Exhibitions
Today, there are miniature art societies in western society to help promote and preserve traditional miniature art and the “spirit of miniature”. Their exhibitions feature the hand held miniature paintings (or sculptures) and each exhibition has its own unique guidelines and rules for artists showing in their exhibit. Some of these rules limit the size of work to be no larger than a set square inch. Others limit the size of a subject, such at the 1/6th scale rule that a subject may not be painted larger than 1/6th of it's natural size, or the 2” rule, that an object in the painting may not exceed 2”. Scale rules were initially put in place as a guide for artists starting out in miniature art. There are also many framing restrictions for society miniature works as well. All of these rules are put into place by each show for their own individual and unique exhibitions, and do not define what miniature art is.
Artists painting miniatures throughout history were not restricted in their artwork by scale as their subjects were painted to any measurement or scale that the artist deemed pleasing to the eye and their patrons, for both manuscripts and other miniatures. Subjects that are naturally small in size, such as butterflies and insects, were painted life sized. Thus the 1/6th scale rule that is used by some shows and societies today unfortunately causes a bit of confusion to those new to the art form who commonly assume that is it a part of a mechanical criteria of the miniature's definition. The world's experts in miniatures do not recognize the rule as legitimate, and view those embracing it as unknowledgeable, and dismiss them.
The term "miniature", as it addresses miniature painting, is often confused with "miniaturize" and some miniature art exhibitions do not refer to miniature as it's initial meaning of techniques, but rather the size of the painting (miniaturized painting). They are two very separate descriptions.
Miniature painting is an art form that is very rich in history that continues today by artists from around the globe. The beautiful ornamental qualities of the miniature should be preserved whether it be the intricate large pieces, or intimate hand held works.
Many thanks to Joan Willies RMS, the Victoria & Albert Museum, & Patrick Noon.
About the Author
Rebecca Latham is an accomplished realistic painter working in finely detailed watercolors and primarily prefers to render wildlife and the natural world in her paintings. She holds memberships in numerous prestigious societies. Her works are exhibited in galleries, exhibitions and collected globally – works can be viewed online at http://www.lathamstudios.com and her blog, http://www.lathamstudios.com/rebeccasblog/blog
Mini-PR2 constructed using CkBot modules