CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART hosts “Hidden Insights: Looking at the Backs of Portrait Miniatures” from February 20 through August 16, 2026. Exchanged as personal mementos or as signs of political allegiance, portrait miniatures first appeared in the French and English courts of the 1520s. Evolved from the art of medieval illuminated manuscripts, miniatures provided a less expensive and more personal alternative to traditional full-scale portraiture. Portrait miniatures were portable luxury objects treasured by their owners both for the cherished portrait and the precious materials from which they were crafted. These might include gold, enamel, diamonds, and locks of human hair. Thirteen miniatures spanning two hundred thirty years represent a variety of approaches to ornamenting the back of a portrait and suggest the wealth of information that can be hidden from view. The museum also shows “American Printed Silks, 1927–1947” through November 8, 2026, “Silver, Gold,and Gems: A Spotlight on Jewelry Across Africa” through December 6, 2026, and “Adorning Ritual: Jewish Ceremonial Art from the Jewish Museum, New York” through May 10, 2026. Shown: Portrait of a Man by Nicholas Freese (British), c. 1795–1800; Portrait of a Woman Reclining on a Sofa, c. 1804; Portrait of a Man by Hornong (French), 1780s. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of J. H. Wade Jr., G. G. Wade and Mrs. E. B. Greene, 1926.228.

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