Miniatures: small works of art
Originally, miniatures served primarily religious purposes and adorned liturgical texts and Bibles. With the Renaissance and humanism, miniature painting underwent a transformation. It increasingly detached itself from book illumination and developed into an independent art form. Artists created small, detailed portraits that served as personal mementos, diplomatic gifts, or decorative items.
Portrait miniatures reached their peak in Austria in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Vienna became a center for this art, where painters such as Moritz Michael Daffinger, Richard Schwager, and Emanuel Thomas Peter created outstanding works. With the invention of photography in the mid-19th century, however, miniature painting gradually lost its importance.
Our miniature collection is largely based on the holdings of the Ludolf and Pierer collections. Through purchases and donations, it has been expanded repeatedly over the years, so that the collection now comprises around 400 miniatures. The oldest miniatures in our collection date from the 16th century, while the newest ones are from the 20th century.
