The Ashmolean collection of miniatures was begun in the 17th century by the Tradescants, father and son, gardeners to Charles I and Henrietta Maria. Among its most generous benefactors was the Reverend Bentinck Hawkins, chaplain to the Dukes of Cambridge and an insatiable 19th-century collector. The miniatures, mostly of very high quality, range from the Tudor and Stuart era to Victorian times, and include specially distinguished works by Isaac Oliver, Cooper, Zincke, Smart, Cosway and Engleheart.
The 10th in the "Ashmolean Handbooks" series, this title illustrates sections of paintings, drawings and objects, which are well represented in the Museum. They are designed to provide an introduction for the general reader and a useful guide for the expert. Richard Walker is the author of "Regency Portraits", "Miniatures in the Collection of Her Majesty the Queen", and "A Catalogue of Miniatures in National Trust Houses".