miniatura

Miniatura, in Spanish and Portuguese, refers to any object or image produced at a small scale. In art, the term denotes a small, highly detailed painting or illustration. The word derives from Latin minutus meaning small, passing into Italian or French through historical usage to describe diminutive works.

In the medieval and early modern world, miniatures were central to illuminated manuscripts. These small paintings illustrated biblical, hagiographic, or secular texts and often featured vibrant pigments and gold leaf. Techniques included tempera or gouache on parchment, vellum, or thin panels, with regional styles evolving across France, the Holy Roman Empire, Italy, and the British Isles. Miniatures served both devotional and narrative functions, and could also act as decorative or symbolic elements within books.

Portrait miniatures became highly popular from the 16th through the 19th centuries, especially in Britain and France. Painted on ivory or other small panels, they were frequently worn as jewelry, contained in lockets, or kept as intimate keepsakes or diplomatic gifts. The format offered portability and personal connection before the advent of photography, with artisans refining realism, detail, and shading.

In contemporary usage, miniaturas are widely associated with scale models and figurines used in tabletop gaming, modeling, and collectibles. Common scales include small figures for wargaming, architectural models, and dioramas. The hobby emphasizes precise painting, shading, highlighting, and weathering, supported by a global community of enthusiasts, guides, and events.