BONHAMS SELLS MINIATURE PORTRAIT OF ELIZABETH I FOR £40,800

BONHAMS ANNOUNCED THAT A PORTRAIT MINIATURE OF ELIZABETH I EXCEEDED THE PRE-SALE ESTIMATE OF £15,000 - £20,000, TO SELL FOR £40,800 IN THE FINE PORTRAIT MINIATURES SALE HELD AT KNIGHTSBRIDGE ON 24.NOVEMBER, WITH A TOTAL SALE REALIZING £371,000. THE PORTRAIT WAS PAINTED BY ONE OF QUEEN ELIZABETH'S FAVORITE MINIATURISTS, NICHOLAS HILLIARD, WHO CHOSE TO SPECIFICALLY CONCENTRATE ON HER COSTUME AND JEWELRY, WHILST ALWAYS PAINTING THE QUEEN'S FACE SIMPLY AND YOUTHFULLY. A SMART OFFICER WEARING A RED COATEE, PAINTED BY THE ARTIST JOHN SMART DURING HIS TIME IN INDIA IN 1794, WAS ALSO ONE OF THE TOP LOTS OF TE SALE, REALIZING £24,000. FURTHER HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED A PORTRAIT MINIATURE BY HORACE HONE OF SARAH SIDDONS, A BRITISH ACTRESS WHO FOUND FAME ON DRURY LANE FOR HER PORTRAYAL OF LADY MACBETH AND BECAME THE BEST KNOWN TRAGEDIENNE OF THE 18th CENTURY. THE PORTRAIT SOLD FOR £12,000 AGAINST A PRE-SALE ESTIMATE OF £6,000 – 8,000.