On multiple occasions, the term "Ivory" is used in relation to draw, art, and creative talent. Up through chapter twenty-two, we receive an ivory mention six times. This is interesting because drawing seems to be a tell-all talent on character and wit within Jane Eyre. Today, drawing isn't as highly regarded as it was in the 1800's. The reason could be from technology, or it could be because for society, becoming an artist seems easier to claim than back then. The concept of ivory miniatures stood out with the way Jane uses art to express her feelings and heartache as she longs for Mr. Rochester. In one scene, it says, "An hour or two sufficed to sketch my own portrait in crayons; and in less than a fortnight I had completed an ivory miniature of an imaginary Blanche Ingram" (172 via Kindle). While she is processing her loss of her beloved Mr. Rochester to soon be married to somebody else, she deems herself idiotic for thinking there could be anything more.

            Jane would be considered a miniaturist while she did most of her paintings and drawings out of the spotlight. She drew many people including herself as full figures, portraits portraying them, and used details to highlight features (The Met). While most people were using these to replicate oil paintings with the watercolors, it seems like Jane was using it "to remind herself that she is not good enough to aspire to the love of Mr. Rochester" (Mimi). Painting on Ivory was not easy because it was hard to control (Sotheby's). Knowing these facts about miniature painting and ivory is influential on how reader's look at Jane. She was talented is creating miniatures even though some thought of her as talentless, reader's see that is not the case. Also, Jane used painting miniatures as a creative expression of her feelings which is interesting because she makes it a point to tell Mr. Rochester that she is not without feelings (167 via Kindle). Finally, it shows that Jane's character is thoughtful and steady as she can create these miniatures while they are difficult to make. The miniatures on the ivory show readers that Jane approaches art with ease even though to most it is difficult.

Work Cited:

Barratt, Carrie Rebora. "American Portrait Miniatures of the Nineteenth Century." The Met,

Metropolitan Museum of Art, Oct. 2004, www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/mini_2/hd_mini_2.htm. Accessed 17 Jan. 2022.

Griffith-Jones, Mark. "Windows Onto Lost Worlds, a History of Portrait Miniature Painting."

Sotheby's, 24 Apr. 2020, www.sothebys.com/en/articles/windows-onto-lost-worlds-a-history-of-portrait-miniature-painting. Accessed 17 Jan. 2022.

Matthews, Mimi. "Miniature Portraits in the Works of Radcliffe, Austen, Brontë, and Dickens." MimiMatthews, Mimi Matthews, 9 June 2015, www.mimimatthews.com/2015/06/09/miniature-portraits-in-the-works-of-radc.... Accessed 17 Jan. 2022.

Image Work Cite:

Invaluable. 1805, www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/portrait-miniature-of-a-gentleman-henry-         williams--470-c-563b9c5b5c. Accessed 17 Jan. 2022.