lover's eye

lover's eye (plural lover's eyes)

1. (art) A miniature painting, typically from the late 18th to early 19th century, depicting a single eye (usually of a loved one), often set into jewelry like rings, pendants, or lockets.

   Synonym: eye miniature

   • 2019 January 4, Gotthardt, Alexxa, “The Mysterious History of Lover’s Eye Jewelry”, in Artsy.net‎^[1], archived from the original on 20 August 2020:

     As objects, lover’s eyes are mesmerizing—and bizarre. Part-portrait, part-jewel, they resist easy categorization. They’re also steeped in mystery: In most cases, both the subject whose eye was depicted and the artist who painted it are unknown.

Lover's eyes were often commissioned as a secret token of affection or a memorials. This form of portrait was popular in England, starting with King George IV gifting one to his mistress. In contemporary contexts, the subject whose eye is depicted is typically unknown.

• 2012. Mustich, Emma. "The secret history of “lover’s eyes”".
• 2012. Grootenboer, Hanneke. Treasuring the Gaze: Intimate Vision in Late Eighteenth-Century Eye Miniatures.
• 2019. Gotthardt, Alexxa. "The Mysterious History of Lover’s Eye Jewelry".