The Precision of the Miniature Peter Hoadly operated within the specialized, demanding realm of portrait miniature painting. Working during the 18th century, his output was defined by the technical constraints of oil on tin, a medium that requires a disciplined hand and a clear understanding of scale. He did not deal in the grand, sweeping canvases of the era; instead, he focused on the intimate, portable likenesses that served the personal needs of the period's elite. His work is characterized by a directness that avoids unnecessary ornamentation, focusing instead on the essential features o…