LOVE AND LOSS American Portrait and Mourning Miniatures

Portrait miniatures, small enough to fit in the palm of the hand, are unique among works of art for their highly personal associations. At the height of their American popularity, from 1760 to about 1840, these cherished portraits were frequently commissioned as a way to hold on to absent loved ones. In this beautifully illustrated book, author Robin Jaffee Frank traces the development of this exquisite art form, revealing the close ties between the history of the miniature and the history of American private life. Hardcover, 358 pages.