Miniatures

Because of the complexities involved in miniature painting, miniature paintings were among the most valuable diplomatic and political gifts before the invention of the camera (fig 2). In addition to the expensive materials, miniatures require a very high level of painting skills, so they are often handled by top painters with perfect attention to detail and color. There were only a handful of miniature painters at the time, not just because only wealthy families could afford the tuition, but also because learning this skill was difficult, and often a teacher could only tutor one student at a time

The painter of the portrait, Jean-Baptiste Isabey, was the most famous French miniature painter of his time. In his youth, he took lessons with the famous Jacques-Louis David, who painted the well-known The Death of Marat.This painting can be found in Google Arts To pay for the tuition, Isabey painted miniature portraits of famous families. Because of his skills, he soon befriended Madame Napoleon and became a court painter under Napoleon's rule. Napoleon was very fond of him, as his colorful and proficient paintings showcased the power and artistic standards of the French imperial family. Napoleon even bestowed a title upon his court miniature artist: peintre dessinateur du Cabinet de l'Empereur, des cérémonies et relations extérieures (Painter-draftsman of the Cabinets of the Emperor, of Ceremonies, and of Foreign Relations). This bond between artist and patron meant that Isabey remained loyal to Napoleon for life.