The miniature portrait was known since the Renaissance. It was often an object given as a sign of affection, exchanged between spouses or friends, and which could be worn on clothing like a jewel. The realistic technique represents the traditional values of the Academy of Fine Arts, sometimes called “academic style.” In addition, the extraordinary difficulty of painting with very delicate brushes required the use of a magnifying glass in order for the artist to see the details of the image.
