Miniature
The Art of reduction
Miniature Origin
Ethymology
From Latin minium (n.) ‘red lead, vermilion’ (used to mark particular words in manuscripts) to Latin miniare (v.) means rubricate, illuminate’, to late 16th century Italian word Miniatura and to nowadays Miniature.
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Miniatures as an illumination
Miniature comes from medieval word called minium, a red lead colour they used to decorate a manuscript or Codex by hand, and the word also correlate with miniare which means "to colour with minium".
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Based on an etymology above, it is clear that miniature was about colour not size as we understand, because miniare is all about colouring technique called illumination which use red colour from lead or vermillion to paint a manuscript.
Miniature Painting after 16th Century
In western world
After 16th century, a new word, miniatura (derived from the Latin word minare) emerged in Italy which has two meanings, one is an illumination and other is a small painting. The reason behind this nomenclature is that, an illumination size is significantly smaller compared to the usual paintings in the same era. Following, English-speaking country adopt it to miniature. Thus, the meaning of miniature (in painting) after medieval era consists of two terms, an illumination and small painting or a painting in small area such as a portrait on a pendant.
Miniature Painting after 16th Century
On eastern side
In Middle-Eastern area, miniature painting is referring back to an illumination and a small painting on a paper.
An illustration book or an album of separated work called a maraqqa which styles are separated in to three main types: Persian, Ottoman and Mughal, sort by regions.
Persian Miniatures
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Ottoman Miniatures
Mughal Miniatures
