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| Family Portrait in a Conservatory H.R. Miller, 1850 The Victoria & Albert Museum |
Though somewhat crude for an 1850 portrait, this painting is
nonetheless charming and appealing with its scene of a married couple, their
three children, a kitten and a Skye Terrier dog. They are depicted in their posh conservatory
with a well-tended garden behind them.
Such a conservatory was quite a status symbol in a Victorian household
during this period when a passion for gardening (or instructing gardeners on
what to do) was highly valued. Pictured
here are some of the most popular plants of the period, notably arum lilies,
passion flowers and pelargoniums.
This is the work of H.R. Miller about whom little is known. Evidently, Miller was accustomed to working on smaller portraits and miniatures. While his depiction of the family is somewhat fuzzy, he shows a remarkable attention to detail with the smaller elements of the piece—namely the jewelry and embroidery. Furthermore, he must have had a keen interest in horticulture since his rendering of the plants and flowers is incredibly accurate.
This is the work of H.R. Miller about whom little is known. Evidently, Miller was accustomed to working on smaller portraits and miniatures. While his depiction of the family is somewhat fuzzy, he shows a remarkable attention to detail with the smaller elements of the piece—namely the jewelry and embroidery. Furthermore, he must have had a keen interest in horticulture since his rendering of the plants and flowers is incredibly accurate.
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