Happy Valentine’s Day, readers! ❣️I am so excited to welcome back Heather Moll to Austenesque Reviews today! As you probably have seen Heather is celebrating her second book release – a new Pride and Prejudice variation titled Two More Days at Netherfield. And today, Heather is sharing a romantic post about miniature portraits. We hope you enjoy!
Hello Meredith and Happy Valentine’s Day to you and your readers! I’m so excited to share a little romance from Two More Days at Netherfield with everyone … things like longing glances… fine eyes … and jewelry? Jewelry can be romantic, right? If you follow me on social media, you’ll see me post about #GeorgianJewelry, and a fashionable example from the era were eye miniatures, now also known as lover’s eyes.
Eye miniatures were the height of fashion for a short time around the turn of the 19th century. They were popularized by the Prince of Wales and his love affair with Maria Fitzherbert. He pursued her even though she was a Catholic widow and prohibited from becoming queen by the 1701 Act of Settlement and the 1722 Royal Marriages Act. Mrs. Fitzherbert fled the country in 1785 after the Prince’s first proposal to avoid a controversy, but the Prince was infatuated by her and sent her a gift along with his second proposal: a small portrait of only his right eye. It must have been a convincing, because she agreed to marry him even though their union was immediately void. In return, she had a similar eye miniature made for him.
Unlike Darcy and Elizabeth’s romance in Two More Days at Netherfield, theirs was an ill-fated romance, and they were force to part. Despite their estrangement, the Prince’s marriage to his cousin Caroline of Brunswick, and his many other lovers, the Prince was convinced that Maria Fitzherbert was the love of his life and was buried with her miniature around his neck.
Lover’s eyes were painted in watercolor on ivory and were no bigger than 2 centimeters. They displayed only the eye—sometimes both—and sometimes with an eyebrow and hair. They were set in gems, pearls, or gold. Lover’s eyes could be ornate or simple and were made into rings, lockets, pendants, and brooches. They were emotionally charged pieces and were given as striking tokens of affection.
In this era, looks were more easily exchanged than words because of the social rules that limited the public interactions between men and women. Eye miniatures were a discreet way to show admiration, love, or lust. They were commissioned as gifts and only an intimate acquaintance—a lover, spouse, or family member—would recognize it. Lover’s eyes made it possible to publicly display affection while concealing the identity of the lover. All the attention is on the gaze and it makes these very compelling pieces of jewelry.
In Two More Days at Netherfield, Elizabeth overhears early on that Darcy admires her eyes and throughout the book they share several significant glances. Some of them are one trying to figure out the other, some are looks of friendship, and others hint of something much more. In this scene, at an evening at Longbourn where Elizabeth has just been embarrassed by Mr. Collins in front of everyone, Darcy and Elizabeth share a private moment in the middle of a crowded room:
Elizabeth wished there was someone in the room to look to for comfort. Her father sat behind his newspaper, but his shaking shoulders told her he was delighted by the absurdity. Jane was too busy curbing Kitty and Lydia’s disrespectful laughter to be of any use to her. Mary had already taken her seat at the instrument and was playing a ponderous melody. Her mother was boasting to Charlotte and Darcy on her having such gifted daughters.
Elizabeth’s gaze settled on Darcy. He turned from Mrs Bennet and met her eye. She was relieved that he looked on her, not with scathing disapproval, but with sympathy. There was a conscious, expressive look in his striking eyes that showed a warmth, a tenderness of his heart. It was a small kindness, but it meant a great deal to her.
While Mr Collins prattled on, Elizabeth looked at Darcy again, and she offered him a subtle look of amused resignation. He smiled, and his eyes expressed all his feelings of commiseration and empathy. It was a brief interlude, and Darcy then gave every appearance of being a reserved gentleman attending to the conversation of his hostess while Elizabeth attempted to attend to Mr Collins expounding on his situation in Hunsford.
Just like in this scene, the gaze and its intimacy are what is important in a lover’s eye. Portrait miniature had been given as gifts before these lover’s eyes grew in popularity, and both lasted until the advent of photography, but eye miniatures were a more deeply personal expression of devotion. There are only about 1,000 of these pieces left and, in most cases, we don’t know the identity of the sitter. But even without context, the piercing gazes mesmerize us. In Two More Days at Netherfield, someone receives a lover’s eye and it is an intimate, precious, and romantic gesture.
Such an interested topic to discuss, Heather! Thank you so much for sharing. I love the idea of having a miniature image of just your beloved’s eye…it is quite romantic! I wonder if Mr. Darcy will ask for Elizabeth to sit for a miniature portrait in Two More Days at Netherfield! 👁
~ Book Description ~
While her sister Jane is ill at Netherfield, Elizabeth Bennet overhears Miss Bingley and the proud Mr Darcy discussing his admiration of Elizabeth and her fine eyes. Not sure what to think of his praise after all of their previous disagreements, and more flattered than she wants to admit, Elizabeth teases him for the disparaging remark he made about her at the Meryton Assembly. Darcy is then forced to reconsider his opinion of a woman who has truly bewitched him more than any other.
The result of this unintended eavesdropping leads to confrontations and apologies on both sides and, eventually, the beginnings of a friendship between Darcy and Elizabeth. Their warming acquaintance impacts the courtship of Darcy’s friend and Elizabeth’s sister, the jealous temper of Miss Bingley, and even the behavior of Mr. Wickham after he arrives in Meryton.
How are the events of the winter drastically affected by the Bennet sisters choosing to spend two more days at Netherfield?
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~ Connect with Heather ~
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~ About Heather ~
Heather Moll is an avid reader of mysteries and biographies with a master’s in information science. She found Jane Austen later than she should have and made up for lost time by devouring Austen’s letters and unpublished works, joining JASNA, and spending too much time researching the Regency era. She is the author of Two More Days at Netherfield and and His Choice of a Wife. She lives with her husband and son and struggles to balance all of the important things, like whether to clean the house or write
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GIVEAWAY TIME!
The lovely people at Quills and Quartos are offering an ebook copy of Two More Days At Netherfield to ONE lucky reader who comments on this blog post! 📗🙌🏼
To enter this giveaway leave a question, comment, or some love for Heather below.
- This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you, Quills and Quartos!
- This giveaway ends February 21st.
Be sure to check out the other blog tour stops!
Our sincere gratitude to Heather Moll, Christina Boyd, and the wonderful people at Quills and Quartos for putting this special post together!
Wow, what an interesting post – thank you, Heather!
Thanks for your support Anniina 🙂
I am Always fascinated by Lover’s eyes…at once think they are creepy but cool.
Happy Valentines!
There IS something that can be both entrancing and off-putting about them. Maybe less creepy if you recognize the eye that’s staring at you?
I love the jewelry , how romantic is that. Would love to get a copy. Thank you for the chance and have a great Valentine’s Day!
Hi Maria! I’m glad you found it interesting. Happy Valentine’s Day and good luck in the giveaway 🙂
I’m currently reading this book (don’t need to be entered in the giveaway) and loving it! Pride & Prejudice variations are my favorite!
I’m so glad you’re loving it Katie 🙂 Thank you!
So now I know the reason behind these miniature eye portraits! I love miniature portraits and own a few. I have yet to see any of the eye portraits come up at auction. Fascinating! I love how you have incorporated these into the story. Thank you for a chance at winning it!!
Happy Valentine’s Day too! By the way, Meredith, love how you are changing up the pictures here on the website!
What a neat collection to have, Carole! I love that. Let us know if you ever come across an eye miniature 🙂 Good luck in the giveaway.
I have read it and LOVED it. [don’t include me in the giveaway] Whew! This was so much fun. Thanks to Meredith for hosting [hello and happy Valentines day to you and your Mr. Bingley] Thanks to Heather and her publisher for the generous giveaway. Good luck to everyone in the drawing, you will love it.
Thank you so much for sharing that you loved the book
Thoroughly enjoyed this book looking forward to more of your writing in the future. Also enjoyed the lover’s eye history as well I found something similar in one of my great-grandmother’s jewelry boxes now it explains why it was there. We thought perhaps some sort of sorority thing. Now we know and I like it even better.
So interesting and the miniatures are beautiful. Enjoyed the excerpt and look forward to reading more.
Thanks for the chance to win.
Aren’t they fascinating? Best of luck in the giveaway Stephanie!
I had no idea eye miniatures were even a thing, but now that I do, you have given me an idea for my own writing, so thanks for that! Elizabeth actually choosing to stay at Netherfield a little longer rather than hurrying away as quickly as she can definitely sounds intriguing. I look forward to reading this story, whether I win it or buy it.
I’m glad you were inspired by the jewelry and intrigued by the premise 🙂 Good luck in the giveaway!
I admit to never hearing about eye miniatures before and I find them somewhat creepy
They’ve certainly faded from fashion. Thanks Vesper 🙂
Happy Saint Valentine’s Day!!! I haven’t heard of eye miniatures before, but they are a way to show one’s love while keeping the identity of one’s beloved secret!!
I hope to win a copy of Two More Days at Netherfield; it looks fascinating!!!
Thank you, Heather, for your post and for the give-away!!
Warmly,
Susanne 🙂
Happy Valentine’s Day Suzanne! The lover’s eyes have a neat history, don’t they? Good luck in the giveaway!
I love the premise of Elizabeth overhearing Darcy on her “fine eyes”. Thanks for the information on the “eye” jewelry. I had no idea that it was a fashionable, intimate object of affection, but for some reason it seems a little creepy to wear an “eye” pin. Maybe if it was more of a locket and covered, it wouldn’t seem ts odd to have an eye looking back at you. –Leslie
I wouldn’t want to walk around wearing one, either but, then again, I don’t need a badge of honor to show that someone loves me while at the same time being discreet. We can be more open these days about that sort of thing. I’m glad you found it interesting!
I didn’t know this existed, I guess I know what to ask for next Valentine’s Day:)
“Hey sweetheart, for Valentine’s Day can you get me a picture of just your eye? Like, life-sized and put on a brooch with some garnets around it. That’d be great. I’ll get one made for you, too.” I think my husband would stare blankly and just hope some flowers would do it. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Wow! Eye miniatures, I think they are slightly creepy too. Looking forward to reading this new release. Thanks for sharing.
The eyes are easily the most expressive feature one has. From affection/flirtation to complete disinterest/boredom they “say” it all. I think about how many times I’ve read, “ the smile didn’t reach his eyes.” I like the premise of Elizabeth and Darcy having an evolving friendship.
I can see that giving someone a painting of one of your eyes could be romantic but to be honest they do look a bit creepy.
I love that Darcy supported Elizabeth when no one else bothered, even if it was just with a sympathetic look.
I wouldn’t want to wear one that belonged to a stranger. That would feel creepy to me. I’m glad you liked the excerpt and Darcy caring for Elizabeth with just a glance in a crowded room 🙂
I would love to have one of those Georgian eye miniatures. Can you imagine trying to guess whose eyes they belonged too?
It’s fascinating to think how many lover’s eyes were produced and how few are thought to exist today… and then how few of THOSE we know who the painter or the sitter was. I’m so glad you found it interesting 🙂
The eye portraits are beautiful. With the eye being about 1/2 inch, a casual observer might not even recognize it as an eye. His Choice of a Wife is one of the best P&P variations I’ve read. I look forward to reading Heather’s next book.
Loved the excerpt but of course I wanted to pinch (HARD) Mr Collins. I’m looking forward to reading this new one of yours Heather.
I love the idea of the eye miniatures, and now they don’t creep me out, but I do admit the first time I saw one it did disturb me some. If it was of a loved one I’d appreciate it far more. I am sad, but not surprised that so few of them have survived. If they were watercolor on porcelain, they would’ve been so fragile and ephemeral.
Has anyone seen ‘A Very British Romance’ with Lucy Worsley? I watched episode 1 last night and loved it, lots of Jane Austen in there. I brought it up because she showed an assortment of eye miniatures and talked about them. (PBS streaming, btw.)
Hi Michelle! I think there will be a few people you’ll want to pinch by the time the story is over lol
I think you’re right that to fully appreciate an eye miniature, you’d have to know whose eyes they were. It’s a rather intimate object. I’ll have to find that Lucy Worsley special. Thanks for mentioning it. I haven’t seen it yet, but I like her.
Thanks for commenting and good luck in the giveaway 🙂
Heather, your images of the eye pins and pendants are beautiful, but unsettling to me. They make me feel like the wearer of the eye miniature is sending an aggressive message that they are taken and that their lover has the evil eye on you, so back off.
Thanks for the insightful blog Heather and best wishes with your new book. The cover is lovely and I look forward to reading it. Best, LA
There is something akin to an evil eye to them, but those amulets are supposed to ward off evil, so maybe the Georgians were on to something? 🙂 Thank you so much for your kind words and support.
I have never heard to lover’s eye painted miniature before. I do like the frames! Since Regency single women and men could rarely have a private conversation, their eyes must be the bearer of their souls as you indicated in the excerpt. Thank you for the giveaway.
So much easier to exchange a look rather than a conversation. Best of luck in the giveaway Eva 🙂
I never knew about these tokens. I feel sorry for the Prince and his wife….It was not fair to both.
Thank you for sharing this part iof history.
Love EB/FD’s silent communication!!!
It is sad they couldn’t be together. Don’t worry, Darcy and Elizabeth will get their happy ever after 🙂
I’ve never heard of lover’s eye before.I understand why they found it romantic back then, but I find it creepy and unsettling. Thank you for the giveaway!
As long as you can appreciate it was romantic for Darcy and Elizabeth, that’s all that matters! Good luck in the giveaway.
I like this story idea. Darcy’s dismissal of Elizabeth at the ball seemed so short-sighted that I like the idea of Elizabeth learning early that he was rash.
I’m so glad the premise caught your attention. Thank you for commenting!
I read and enjoyed this story – I also recommend it to JAFF lovers.
Thank you for your support Sheila!
Absolutely a gorgeous cover! If you could travel back in time to the Regency Era, where would you want to visit?
I love this question! I would have to say Derbyshire. I was there last year and I think it’d be fascinating to see what has changed and how many things are the same as they were 200 years ago. Thanks for asking such a though-provoking question!