Georgian lover’s eye miniature – the lens of desire

During the Georgian era miniatures were a subcategory of portrait paintings, and within miniatures existed an even more obscure subcategory – the eye miniature. The portrait of a single eye was identifiable only to those intimate, making it a very private token of desire and affection.

By repute this eye miniature is from the Lowther Castle collection of portrait miniatures. Lowther Castle in Cumbria, seat of the Earl of Lonsdale, had a rich history of housing fine art, family portraits and portrait miniatures. In 1947 the whole contents of the castle were sold off to cover crippling death duties and huge debts amassed by the 5th Earl of Lonsdale.

Item ref : TR2