Mastery of Design: A Watercolor on Ivory Eye Miniature, 1800

Eye Miniature
Watercolor on Ivory
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Here’s another eye miniature. This one, set in a square frame, is edged by twelve pink gemstones (likely topaz). The artist has painted this romantic token in watercolor on ivory.

Such intimate jewels were exchanged by lovers—usually a woman giving the portrait to a gentleman. These paintings were, like this one, set in jeweled frames and were meant to be worn on the person—inside the clothing. To wear such a personal image for public display would have been in poor taste.

Created around 1800, we don’t know to whom the eye belonged or to whom it was given. We do know, however, that it was made in England.