A Royal Paintrix

It is the beginning of the 16th century and the Renaissance has come to England. This is a time of explosive growth in the arts. England's Renaissance is dominated by literature and music, with the visual arts lagging behind a bit. However, England did make a significant contribution to the visual arts arena with the advancement of the miniature portrait. Leading this work was Levina Teerlinc.

Levina was born in 1520 in Flanders to Simon Benninck (maybe Bening), a well known manuscript painter. Levina was an eldest of five daughters, so she was trained in painting from an early age. Simmon probably expected that she would take over the family business. Things progress nicely for Levina. By the age of 20 or so she is beginning to become known for her skill.  In 1545, she married George Teerlinc, and the couple eventually had a son named Marcus.

In that same year Levina received a job offer from the English court. Henry VIII was inviting her to England to become the 'royal paintrix'. Why Henry selected Levina is not known; what is known is that royal portraits of this time were not just fine art, but works of propaganda. Having a portrait painter in the Royal Household was necessary to a monarch's public relations campaign. 

Portrait of Elizabeth I
by Levina Teerlinc, c. 1565

Levinia was not just any portrait painter however. She was a miniaturist. In the early 16th century this was an emerging art form. These were tiny paintings - often no more than two inches in height - of people  or landscapes. A person might have a portrait painted of, or for, a loved one. The portrait would be carried on the person of the owner, or could be mounted in a piece of jewelry, such as a locket. The paintings were executed on vellum, or sometimes ivory,  using watercolors. Since Levina came from a background as a manuscript painter, she was perfectly suited to developing this new art form. 

An Elizabethan Maundy,
miniature by Levina Teerlinc, c. 1560

Levina's life is pretty drama free. She and George move to London in 1546 where she works steadily until her death in 1576. She is the court painter to Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I.  Lodovico Guicciardini a 16th century Italian art historian reported that Levinia was paid significantly better than the former court painter, Hans Holbien the Younger.

It is interesting to me that Levina was trained in a very traditional art form, but became a trail blazer in an emerging art form. Pretty bad-ass if your ask me!

Did you learn something new? Have you ever painted a miniature or are you inspired to try a miniature on your own? Tell me about it below!