the time as 'talc'. The paper thin material could be painted on with oil and placed over the portrait miniature so that the holder of the portrait miniature could dress up the subject or disguise the portrait. Costume Overlays Costume overlays were a technique in which artists were commissioned to paint a subject in costume or altered state of dress to hide the identity. Typically the portrait was commissioned with a thin removable overlay made from mica to conceal the identity of the subject. Concealing the identity of a miniature would have been necessary if the subject was an unpopular ruler, potentially causing harm if a person was caught carrying the picture. One such example is painting over a portrait in costume to hide the original portrait. Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Department of Costumes and Textiles discovered a series for portrait miniatures from England dating from the 1650s that appear to show the same woman in dress. The woman bore a striking resemblance to English monarch Charles I (1600-1649), who was executed in 1649. The king remained popular with a group of followers after his execution and many found subtle ways to honor the king. This discovery is only a glimpse as to how portrait miniatures could also serve as a way to commemorate loss as well as loyalty. Displays A number of museums display miniature original oil paintings including the Museum of Arts in Boston and the Astolat Dollhouse Castle when it is on public display. The National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. as well as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London carry a vast number of portrait miniatures among their larger portrait collections, many are also accessible to the public for online viewing. Exhibitions International Biennial of Miniature Art (since 1989), Gornji Milanovac, Serbia International Biennial of Miniature Art (since 2000), Częstochowa, Poland Annual Royal Miniature Society Exhibition, London, UK References Sources External links Victoria and Albert Museum, miniatures gallery (archived) Artists and Ancestors – A Miniature Portrait Collection Collecting and Researching Miniature Portraits Copy, Fake, and Decorative Miniatures Gornji Milanovac International Biennale of the Miniature G Engleheart Pinxit 1773–1818 A Practical Guide Miniature painting Miniature