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| Samuel Cotes Mary Ann Yates as Electra in Voltaire's Orestes 1769 watercolor on ivory Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
In the second half of the 18th century Mrs. Yates (above) regularly ornamented the London stage opposite the great David Garrick. She was the leading tragic actress of her generation, only superseded in her final days by the advent of the celestial (and better-remembered) Mrs. Siddons. The vast collection of portrait miniatures at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London typically feature more obscure sitters, though all those selected below are at least supplied with proper names instead of the 'unknown woman' and 'unknown man' who are the subjects of the majority of surviving watercolors on ivory.
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| William Ross Miniature portrait of Panelli C Ralli 1856 watercolor on ivory Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Andrew Pilmer Miniature portrait of Mrs Skottowe ca. 1800 watercolor on ivory Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Simon Jacques Rochard Miniature portrait of the Stirling children 1826 watercolor on ivory Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| John Smart Miniature portrait of Charlotte Leighton 1784 watercolor on ivory Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| John Smart Miniature portrait of Colonel Reynolds 1810 watercolor on ivory Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Henry Charles Heath Miniature portrait of Arthur Sannox Johnston, age 12 ca. 1877 watercolor on ivory Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Richard Crosse Miniature portrait of Henry Swinburne ca. 1775-80 watercolor on ivory Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Rosalba Carriera Miniature portrait of Robert Walpole ca. 1730-40 watercolor on ivory Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Andrew Robertson Miniature portrait of Miss Burnaby-Green 1829 watercolor on ivory Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Adam Buck Miniature self-portrait 1804 watercolor on ivory Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Peter Paillou Miniature portrait of William Rowley, MD 1789 watercolor on ivory Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| John Smart Miniature self-portrait 1797 watercolor on ivory Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| John Smart Miniature portrait of the Honourable Miss Eliza Booth 1766 watercolor on ivory Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
I am grateful to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London for the excellent reproductions.