Opening the Heneage Jewel

The innovative painting of miniature portraits flourished under the Tudors—sharing a beloved’s facial features on a significantly exclusive and intimate scale. Designed to be worn on the body and examined in hand, this locket capitalized on the precious reveal of Queen Elizabeth I’s features, nestled within an enameled, jewel-encrusted golden case. Celebrating and pledging fidelity between monarch and loyal subject, the Heneage Jewel was likely made as a gift either to Elizabeth or to her favored courtier, Sir Thomas Heneage. As such, it doubled as both a private art work, destined for a limited and elite audience, and as a pubic declaration of loyalty and favor.

Featured Artwork: The Heneage Jewel, Nicholas Hilliard (ca. 1547–1619) and workshop, ca. 1595–1600. Enameled gold, table-cut diamonds, Burmese rubies, rock crystal, and a miniature, 2¾ × 2 in. (7 × 5.1 cm). Victoria and Albert Museum, London (M.81-1935).

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[oxnyxws]

It's amazing how I want to know what the click sounds like when it closes... stunning work with the string

[bonniesnith]

I always thought the Queen Elizabeth the second was a really awesome 😎