The miniature painting is considered as painting on a very small scale, at the first time manuscript illumination, and later miniature portraits, sometimes set in jewelled cases, and Islamic paintings. Hans Holbein the Younger introduced miniature portrait painting into English art, the form reaching its height in the works of Hilliard in the 16th century, and continuing to evolve well into the 19th century. There was also a very strong tradition of miniature portrait painting in France. Miniatures by Islamic artists flourished in India and Persia, their subjects often bird and flowers, or scenes from history and legend, rather than portraits as it is in Western arts.
