{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O82288"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O82288/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AG1641/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AG1641/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AG1641","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KA0981","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O82288/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O82288","accessionNumber":"39-1866","objectType":"Enamel miniature","titles":[{"title":"Portrait of an unknown man","type":"popular title"}],"summaryDescription":"This portrait is painted in enamel on metal. The advantage of enamel over traditional miniature painting (watercolour painted on vellum or, from about 1700, on ivory) is that it does not fade when exposed to light. The process of painting with enamels is, however, less free than the miniature technique and is fraught with danger. The first colours to be laid on the metal support have to be those needing the highest temperature when firing. More colour is added and the enamel refired, the process ending with the colours needing the lowest temperature. Such labour meant that it was an expensive option. \r\n\r\nIn the 1630s Jean Petitot, goldsmith and jeweller, and his friend Jacques Bordier, an enameller working at the English court of Charles I, together developed the art of painting portraits in enamel using a previously unexplored range of colours and subtlety of tone. This French work by an unknown artist is dated 1645 and is contemporary with the early work of Petitot. Interestingly, it has a monochrome style rather than the newly fashionable high-colour methods pioneered by Petitot and Bordier.","physicalDescription":"Enamel on metal miniature, mounted as a locket","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"enamel","id":"AAT14910"},{"text":"metal","id":"AAT10900"}],"techniques":[{"text":"painting","id":"AAT54216"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Enamel on metal","categories":[{"text":"Portraits","id":"THES48906"},{"text":"Paintings","id":"THES48917"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2006AG1641","2017KA0981"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLF","id":"THES49656"},"free":"","case":"RMC","shelf":"8","box":"A"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"miniature (painting)","id":"AAT33936"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"France","id":"x28849"},"association":{"text":"painted","id":"x30138"},"note":"probably"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1645","earliest":"1645-01-01","latest":"1645-12-31"},"association":{"text":"painted","id":"x30138"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"31","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"28","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions taken from departmental notes","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"\"Mon Coeur conserve un autre objet/Des vertus dont il eut la gloire,/Grave au fons de ma memoire/Plus au vif que n'est ce portret,/Qui Represante son visage./Si des le printemps de son age/Son corps sert de pasture au vers/La parque qui fila Sa vie/Croignoit qu'un jour dans l'hunivers/Il ne fut trop digne d'envie./Au mois de may l'an de grace 1645\". (Taken from Catalogue \"Les Freres Le Nain\", Grand Palais, 1979, pp.220-221","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscribed on the back in enamel."}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Portrait enamel of an unknown man, dated 1645.  Anonymous, French School 17th century (as possibly School of Le Nain).","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["39-1866"],"accessionNumberNum":"39","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1866,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-12-19","recordCreationDate":"2003-07-14","availableToBook":false}}