Pocket-sized Power: A Feminist History of Portrait Miniatures

Online exhibition

Explore the exhibition here

Can power fit in the palm of your hand?  

Portrait miniatures are tiny, yet mighty objects. Often no bigger than a smartphone, these small detailed portraits were often made to be worn as jewellery and carried as keepsakes. Hidden in lockets, pockets, and homes, they let images and emotions travel across people and places.  

Explore the online exhibition and learn more about the captivating and often-overlooked roles of women as you browse.

• You can discover the remarkable story of Sarah Biffin, a disabled artist born without limbs who painted incredibly delicate works with just her mouth.
• Or, see the work of Penelope Carwardine, who took up painting miniatures to rescue her family from financial ruin.  
• Or, you can zoom in on the hidden symbols in Queen Elizabeth I’s portraits which were used a political tools.

Look through a range of fascinating objects  and uncover the hidden history of women who shaped the creation of portrait miniatures. You can also get up close and see the artist’s skill in creating detail and texture on such a small scale.

Curated by MA Art History and Curating students at the University of Birmingham, this online exhibition brings together works from the Victoria and Albert Museum and rarely displayed works from the Barber Institute of Fine Arts. Through a selection of thirty portrait miniatures we will show you how small objects can tell powerful and important stories.