Mexican Portrait Miniatures of Officer and Wife

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Mexican Portrait Miniatures of Officer and Wife
Medium: Oil on Board,
Circa 1845-50

Two intricately detailed oil-on-board miniatures portray a … Read more Mexican Portrait Miniatures of Officer and Wife
Medium: Oil on Board,
Circa 1845-50

Two intricately detailed oil-on-board miniatures portray a military officer and his wife. The paintings share a common backdrop of rolling hills and verdant fields, suggesting a serene rural setting.

The officer is seated in a Federal-style chair, with a dramatic sunset casting a warm glow behind him. He is dressed in a formal military unifIntimate Portraits of an Era: Mexican Portrait Miniatures of an Officer and His Wife, Circa 1845–50
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, depicting a military officer and his wife, place them squarely within a tradition of miniature painting that flourished globally 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 uniform, with its striking white and red collar, speaks to his military status and patriotism in a period of great national change for Mexico. The dramatic sunset behind him adds a romantic and heroic quality to his depiction.

His wife, in a complementary pose, exudes elegance and wealth. Her dark, low-cut dress, likely black or dark blue, 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 social standing but also highlight the exquisite detail with which the artist rendered her portrait.

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.

Dimensions:
Frame: 5 3/4 inches high x 4 3/4 inches wide x 3/4 inches deep (14.6 x 12.1 cm);
Sight: 4 1/2 x 3 3/4 in. (11.4 x 9.5 cm)

(Ref: NY10612-puu) See less