Starting from December 12, 2025, visitors to the Art Museum 'Riga Bourse' can see portrait miniatures from the 18th–19th centuries in the permanent exhibition of Western European art, discovering one of the most exquisite and personal forms of European art.
The selection of portrait miniatures offers an opportunity to explore 43 works that reflect both general European trends and the artistic features of the Baltic region. Part of the collection is closely linked to the history of Latvia and the Baltics, while the remaining works demonstrate a wide geographical and technical range of the European genre of portrait miniatures, encompassing German, Austrian, French, English, and other artistic schools.
The items included in the exhibition showcase various materials and techniques: miniatures made on ivory, in the verre églomisé technique, on enameled metal, in the form of silhouettes, and even as cameos. Notably, the exhibits are displayed in a special showcase made with the support of the Boris and Inara Teterev Foundation, which allows for a full appreciation of these works.
The exhibited collection includes works by both professional artists and compositions created by self-taught individuals, inviting comparisons of the spectrum of craft and artistic skills in this genre. Sometimes the name of the artist or the depicted person is known, but often both remain anonymous witnesses of their time. The presence of these different fates serves as a reminder of the fragility of history, in which even once-famous figures can become nameless images.
Miniatures served various functions: they acted as memorial or family portraits associated with significant life events, as well as decorative elements of everyday items such as snuff boxes, cases, and jewelry. Each object reveals the technical and aesthetic diversity of the genre, affirming the significance of portrait miniatures both in the context of art and in the context of private life culture.
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