The Chambers Family

Family portraits that have stayed together are always a special find. This group of three miniatures comes from the Chambers Family: the father wears a striking scarlet coat, his powdered wig en queue tied with black ribbon; and, his two children in matching muslin dresses, the elder child with a blue and white ribbon in her dark hair. Sadly, their individual names have been lost to history along with their story. According to the artist’s fee book, Engleheart painted several portraits of the Chambers Family between 1776 and 1782 including Master G., Miss C., Miss L. and Miss Sabina, all painted in 1776.

The miniatures come from the early years of Engleheart’s career when he typically worked on small ivory bases and favoured paler backgrounds. His draughtsmanship was painstakingly meticulous during this period.

The miniatures are housed in matching frames, the two children with plaited hair reverse.

George Engleheart (1750-1829) ranks amongst the most talented of the artists that were working during the Georgian heyday of portrait miniature painting. Over the course of his career he painted well over 4,000 portrait miniatures with up to thirty studio sittings per day. The year 1788 was his busiest with 228 completed commissions recorded.

Ivory Exemption Ref.: 9RLC3PFT