Rebecca Flint Instagram – The Lover’s Eye 👁️‍🗨️ a romantic and rare regency era trend in miniature portraiture ❣️⁣ ⁣ Less than 1,000 original Lover’s Eye miniatures are known to be in existence, so I had no choice but to try and paint my own! I’m no artist, but I took to my paints with my finest brush at hand 🖌️⁣ ⁣ WHAT IS A LOVER’S EYE PAINTING?⁣ ⁣ Before we had cameras at our disposal, for the wealthiest of the past, a miniature portrait was the only way to keep your loved one’s likeness on hand. ⁣ ⁣ Said to be invented by Prince George of Wales 👑, in pursuit of a woman he was not permitted to marry, he instead sent her a small portrait of solely his eye in one of his love letters 💌 prior to their secret engagements. In return, she commissioned an eye portrait of her own for him to wear around his neck. 👁️⁣ ⁣ Eyes are the window to the soul, and by reducing the miniature portrait to only an eye, intrigue and anonymity could blossom 🌸 as a result. These trendy portraits became a tokenistic way to secretly carry your lover with you, without exposing who they may be.⁣ ⁣ Why not try and create your own too? Mayfair