Early 19th century Spanish miniature

Early 19th century Spanish miniature.
"Portrait of a lady, ca. 1830.
Gouache on vellum.
Brass frame.
Size: 6.4 x 5.3 cm; 7.3 x 6.3 cm (frame).
This Spanish miniature represents a woman dressed in rigorous mourning. She wears a black dress with bare shoulders. Lace decorates the shoulders, sleeves and gloves. The gloves give a glimpse of her jewellery, which indicates her high social class.
Miniature painting, especially portrait painting, developed in Europe from the 16th century onwards. They were mainly paintings that were embedded in objects such as medallions, table clocks or small boxes. They were executed in a wide variety of techniques, such as oil on copper, pewter or ivory, gouaches on parchment or card and, from the 18th century, watercolour on ivory. This delicate art was gradually lost from the second half of the 19th century, in parallel with the development of photography.