The Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers, more commonly known as the Royal Miniature Society (RMS), is an art society founded in 1895 dedicated to upholding and continuing the tradition of

miniature A miniature is a small-scale reproduction, or a small version. It may refer to: * Portrait miniature, a miniature portrait painting * Miniature art, miniature painting, engraving and sculpture * Miniature (chess), a masterful chess game or problem ...

painting Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ...

and sculpture, generally meaning the painted

portrait miniature A portrait miniature is a miniature portrait painting, usually executed in gouache, watercolor, or enamel. Portrait miniatures developed out of the techniques of the miniatures in illuminated manuscripts, and were popular among 16th-century eli ...

, a particular English tradition. The Society's aims are to "esteem, protect and practise the traditional 16th Century art of miniature work, emphasising the infinite patience needed for its fine techniques." Since 2002, its patron has been

Charles III Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. He was the longest-serving heir apparent and Prince of Wales and, at age 73, became the oldest person to ...

History

The Society was founded in 1896 by Alyn Williams, originally as The Society of Miniature Painters. A

royal charter A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, bu ...

was granted by

King Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria a ...

in 1904, and it became the Royal Miniature Society. To highlight the Society's growing importance, the President's Jewel was commissioned in 1920. This is a large, elaborate silver

chain of office A livery collar or chain of office is a collar or heavy chain, usually of gold, worn as insignia of office or a mark of fealty or other association in Europe from the Middle Ages onwards. One of the oldest and best-known livery collars is the Col ...

designed and made by Alfred Lyndhurst Pocock which is still worn by the current president at formal functions. In 1926, the Society's scope was extended to include

sculptors Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...

and gravers, and its name was changed by the Royal Command of

King George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. Born during the reign of his grandmother Que ...

to become the Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers. Since its foundation, the Society has had ten different presidents, including Sir William Blake Richmond (1899 to 1907) and

Raymond Lister Raymond Lister (1919–2001) was an English blacksmith/ironworker, author, artist, and a leading authority on Samuel Palmer. Life Lister was born and spent most of his life in Cambridge. During his career he had made the artistic ironwork for m ...

(1970 to 1980). The current president, elected in 2020, is Ray Winder.

Exhibitions and awards

Annual exhibition

The Society's annual exhibition of around 650 works is held each year at the

Mall Galleries Mall commonly refers to a: * Shopping mall * Strip mall * Pedestrian street * Esplanade Mall or MALL may also refer to: Places Shopping complexes * The Mall (Sofia) (Tsarigradsko Mall), Sofia, Bulgaria * The Mall, Patna, Patna, Bihar, India * M ...

in London. A wide range of subject matter is featured, including portrait, landscape, still life and abstract paintings, in addition to sculpture. A centennial exhibition, opened by Lord Gowrie, was held in 1995 at

Westminster Central Hall The Methodist Central Hall (also known as Central Hall Westminster) is a multi-purpose venue in the City of Westminster, London, serving primarily as a Methodist church and a conference centre. The building, which is a tourist attraction, also ho ...

in London.

Awards

The Society's Gold Memorial Bowl Award, established in 1985, is one of the highest accolades for miniature art in the world. Crafted in 18 carat gold by royal jewellers

Garrard & Co Garrard & Co. Limited, formerly Asprey & Garrard Limited, designs and manufactures luxury jewellery and silver. George Wickes founded Garrard in London in 1735 and the brand is headquartered at Albemarle Street in Mayfair, London. Garrard also h ...

, the Bowl was a gift to the Society from former president Suzanne Lucas. A silver gilt replica is received by the winning artist. Other awards include: * The Prince of Wales Award for Outstanding Miniature Painting * The President’s Special Commendation * The Society’s Award for the Best Group of Work * The Mundy Sovereign Portrait Award * The Bidder and Borne Award * Peter Charles Booth Memorial Award * Anita Emmerich Presentation Award * Anthony J Lester Art Critics Award * Anthony J Lester Young Artists Award * Arturi Phillips 'Connoisseur' Award * The Elizabeth Meek Award * People’s Choice Award * Joan Cornish Willies Award for Outstanding Traditional Miniature Oil Painting * Award for Innovation

Membership

An artist is eligible for consideration for Associate Membership (ARMS) if they have had five works accepted in the previous annual exhibition. If all five works submitted for the current exhibition are accepted then the Selection Committee will consider them for election to Associate Membership. To be considered for election to full Membership (RMS), Associate Members must have five works accepted in three exhibitions running. Six works must be submitted and accepted in the fourth year. The decision is then voted on by the Selection Committee.

Art form

Miniature portrait A portrait miniature is a miniature portrait painting, usually executed in gouache, watercolor, or enamel. Portrait miniatures developed out of the techniques of the miniatures in illuminated manuscripts, and were popular among 16th-century el ...

painting dates back to the 16th century and was introduced by artists of the Tudor Court] including

Hans Holbein the Younger Hans Holbein the Younger ( , ; german: Hans Holbein der Jüngere; – between 7 October and 29 November 1543) was a Germans, German-Swiss people, Swiss painter and printmaker who worked in a Northern Renaissance style, and is considered o ...

, later continued by artists including

Nicholas Hilliard Nicholas Hilliard () was an English goldsmith and limner best known for his portrait miniatures of members of the courts of Elizabeth I and James I of England. He mostly painted small oval miniatures, but also some larger cabinet miniatures, ...

Isaac Oliver Isaac Oliver (c. 1565 – bur. 2 October 1617) or Olivier was an English portrait miniature painter.Baskett, John. ''Paul Mellon's legacy: a passion for British art'' (Yale University Press, 2007) pp. 240-1. Life and work Born in Rouen, he ...

and

Samuel Cooper Samuel or Sam Cooper may refer to: *Samuel Cooper (painter) (1609–1672), English miniature painter *Samuel Cooper (clergyman) (1725–1783), Congregationalist minister in Boston, Massachusetts * Samuel Cooper (surgeon) (1780–1848), English surge ...

. Modern miniature painting respects many of the principles originally set by Hilliard. When the Society was founded, the maximum size for a miniature was 12 by 10 inches. Today, the permitted size varies depending on shape and medium, but paintings (including frame and mount) should have a diameter of no more than 4.5 inches. Sculptures should not exceed 8 inches along the longest measurement, including the base. Elizabeth Meek, who held the post of President between 2004 to 2013, describes working in miniature as the most demanding of all painting genre. Meek names some of the qualities required as, "concentration, stillness of mind and body and a dogged perseverance for perfection." Emma Rutherford, of art dealers Philip Mould & Co, says of the miniature art form, "they are not merely painting made small, the technique is entirely different and comes directly from the discipline of medieval

manuscript illumination An illuminated manuscript is a formally prepared document where the text is often supplemented with flourishes such as borders and miniature illustrations. Often used in the Roman Catholic Church for prayers, liturgical services and psalms, the ...

Past members

* Gladys Kathleen Bell (1882-1965) * Henry Harding Bingley * Reginald Easton (1807-1892) * Nellie M. Hepburn-Edmunds (1870-1953) *

May de Montravel Edwardes May de Montravel Edwardes (1887 – 10 December 1964''The London Gazette'', partie 10, 1967, ) was a British painter and miniaturist. Biography Edwardes was born in London and studied at the Cope and Nichol School of Art in South Kensington be ...

(1887-1967) *

Dudley Hardy Dudley Hardy Royal Institute of Oil Painters, ROI, Royal Society of British Artists, RBA (15 January 1867 – 11 August 1922), was an English painter and illustrator. Life and work Hardy was the eldest son of the marine painter Thomas Bush Har ...

(1867-1922) * John Hassall (1868-1948) * Hal Hurst (1865-1938) * Mrs Mabel Lee Hankey (1863-1943) *

John Mennie John George Mennie, A.R.M.S. D.A.(ABDN). ARMS., (26 November 1911 – 24 August 1982) was a Scottish artist who came to public attention in 2011 for his many contemporaneous drawings of his life as a prisoner of war during the Japanese occupatio ...

(1911-1987)Back from Hell - Gallery of portraits by John Mennie
/ref> * Cecil Watson Quinnell (1868-1932) *

Omar Ramsden Omar Ramsden (1873–1939) was a Sheffield-born silversmith. He was one of England's leading designers and makers of silverware. He lived on Fir Street in Walkley, Sheffield, Yorkshire, but spent his entire career working in London. Early life ...

(1873-1939) *

Henry Saxon Henry Saxon (16 August 19183 October 2005) was an artist specialising in miniatures. His paintings typically comprised verse or biblical text set in fine borders with one or more inset illustrative pictures. History Henry Saxon was born in Ash ...

Lucas Art ''The Royal Society of Miniature Painters Sculptors and Gravers - One Hundred Years''. (London, 1995). * Miss Eileen Alice Soper (1905-1990) *

Charles Spencelayh Charles Spencelayh (October 27, 1865 – June 25, 1958) was an English genre works, genre painter and portraitist in the Academic art, Academic style. Spencelayh was born in Rochester, Kent, Rochester in Kent, and first studied at the Royal Coll ...

(1865-1958) * Cecil Thomas * Charles James Turrell (1846-1932) *

Margaret Foote Hawley Margaret Spencer Foote Hawley (1880–1963) was an American painter of portrait miniatures. Hawley and her sister, Mary Foote – also later to become a painter – were born in Guilford, Connecticut, the daughters of Charles Spencer Foote (1837� ...

Eleanor Tufts Eleanor May Tufts (February 1, 1927December 2, 1991) was an American art historian, feminist and professor of art history at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Her work as an author, historian and lecturer was key to the opening o ...

; National Museum of Women in the Arts (U.S.); International Exhibitions Foundation (1987). ''American women artists, 1830–1930''. International Exhibitions Foundation for the National Museum of Women in the Arts. .

External links

Royal Miniature Society

References

{{reflist Portrait miniaturists Arts organisations based in the United Kingdom Arts organizations established in the 1890s