- Ad vivuma Latin phrase meaning ‘to the life’ or ‘from life’. It is primarily used to describe artworks - such as portraits, botanical drawings, or anatomical studies - created by directly observing a living subject rather than copying another image. In this context, the reference is to portraits.
- CanonA selection of artworks and artists traditionally recognised as authoritative in art history.
- Ceruse A toxic white pigment made from lead that was used to build the base of forms such as skin and pearls.
- East India CompanyA British trading company (1600–1858) that controlled large parts of India and created global networks linking Britain and Asia.
- Ferret’s teeth The fine teeth of this small, domesticated mammal were valued as tools in delicate artistic processes.
- IndigoA deep blue pigment derived from plants of the genus indogofera, that was used for shading, required minimal preparation and was widely traded across global networks.
- Ivory A typically white, hard material, usually from the tusk of an elephant, and used for carving sculptures and decorative objects.
- LithographA type of print made by drawing onto a flat surface (usually stone or metal) and using ink to create multiple copies.
- Mask of YouthA visual strategy that minimized shadow and reduced facial features to schematic lines, allowing recognition while sustaining an ageless image.
- MassicotA yellow pigment made from lead oxide, used in miniature painting to create warm tones and subtle gradations of light and shadow.
- Modest School In the 1700s artists started painting non-royal sitters in candid, unpretentious styles, which became known as the ‘Modest School’; miniatures became smaller, were painted on ivory, and were fashionable as wearable jewellery.
- Official limnerHonorary title for portrait miniature artists that implied an unpaid role within the royal court, but a position that nonetheless helped facilitate access to court patronage.
- Portrait miniature revivalA period at the beginning of the twentieth century that saw a rise in the popularity of portrait miniatures.
- PurserA ship’s officer responsible for supplies and accounts. In the East India Company, pursers travelled long distances between Britain and India.
- QuakerA member of the Religious Society of Friends, a Christian group known for simplicity, equality, and social reform.
- ReformationSixteenth-century movement that broke with the Roman Catholic Church, establishing the Church of England under the monarch and intensifying tensions with Catholic Spain.
- Royal Academy of ArtsA leading British art institution, founded in 1768, that promotes artists through exhibitions and training.
- Royal Scottish AcademyA leading Scottish art institution founded in 1826 to support fine art, and artists.
- Self-fashioning The deliberate construction of identity through visual representation. In portrait miniatures, it includes choices of dress, pose, and symbolism that shape perception.
- Silver In its liquid form, it constituted a reflective base over which lines or translucent colours.
- The Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Engravers and SculptorsAn organisation founded in 1896 to promote miniature art.
- VellumA smooth, fine material made from animal skin, used as a surface for painting or printing.
