Lover's Eye Portrait - Brown Eye in Mint Frame - 4.5"

Gorgeous, meaningful, and witty - these framed images are wonderful pieces for your home or to give as a gift. Handmade works of art in colored pencil and watercolor by Massachusetts artist Julie Henderson.

In 1784 The Prince of Wales, later to be King George IV, met the widow Maria Fitzherbert and fell head over heels in love. There were issues - she was a Catholic and a commoner, for two, so he had to secretly pursue her. one of his tactics was to send a proposal by letter which included a miniature painting of his eye by the painter Richard Cosway. It may have helped, as they soon married. Cosway then painted an eye portrait of the new bride for the Prince. Word got out and the exchange of eye portraits became a trend, often worn as jewelry, which spread across Europe and continued into the early part of the 19th century.

At the time, they were wonderful tokens of affection that provided an intimate symbol of love while keeping the identity of the pictured person unknowable to strangers, since it was only one part of their face.