Portrait of a Man

George Engleheart's Portrait of a Man on ivory dates from around 1780, during his prime as the most prolific miniaturist of Georgian England. Engleheart produced an astonishing number of miniatures—over 4,800 in his career—serving the insatiable demand for portable portrait keepsakes among the English gentry. The ivory support, which became the standard for miniatures in the 18th century, provided a luminous, skin-like ground.

The miniature on ivory exploits the translucent support to create warm, glowing flesh tones through delicate stippling and hatching. Engleheart's precise technique captures the sitter's likeness within the tiny format while maintaining the luminous quality that distinguished ivory miniatures.