Portrait miniatures, silhouettes and gallimaufry

Small Portraits of Character

Wigs on the Green specialises in fine portrait miniatures, silhouettes, small portraits, and provincial art, predominantly from the 18th and 19th centuries. Our portraits are selected for their historical interest and character. They are not only by listed artists but also those who painted and drew for their own entertainment and pleasure - true to life portraits, with real character and, often, a pretty face!

Collections of miniature portraits or silhouettes considered for purchase.

New Arrivals

Frill Pin

John Field

£325

James Scouler, portrait of a Scottish officer leaning on his sword

The Basket Hilt

James Scouler (1740-1812)

£1,900

Serenity

Edward Burch RA

£2,200

Attention Seeking

Augustin Edouart

£180

The Frisky Dog

Augustin Edouart

£165

Mrs Roberts

JCD Engleheart

£1,300

Latest Musing

Mrs Elizabeth Hudson, a pair of silhouettes reverse painted on glass of John Harvey and his wife Frances Kerrison

Mrs Hudson – A Lady of Many Parts

2nd May 2025

The discovery of hitherto unknown newspaper advertisements placed by Mrs Hudson between 1779 and 1802 has revealed the diversity of her career. Born in Bath in 1753, Elizabeth was the first child of Henry and Ann Chilcot. Her sisters, Harriet and Ann, were born in 1754 and 1755 respectively. Their father (bap. 1730) was apprenticed to a jeweller and goldsmith before being taken on as a ‘principal workman’ for James Bellis, jeweller and toyman of… (show more)

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