miniator

The artist who applied this was called a "miniator," and from this, was derived the term "miniature," which later referred to the pictures executed in the developed stages of the art.

Arts and Crafts in the Middle Ages A Description of Mediaeval Workmanship in Several of the Departments of Applied Art, Together with Some Account of Special Artisans in the Early Renaissance Julia de Wolf Gibbs Addison

At first the "miniator" was charged with tracing in red minium the titles and initials.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 9: Laprade-Mass Liturgy 1840-1916 1913

In classical times, among the Romans, the "miniator" was simply a person who applied the _minium_, and had nothing to do with pictures or portraits at all, but with the writing.

Illuminated Manuscripts John William Bradley 1873

We call them miniatures, but we must remember that by "miniator" a Roman bookseller would not understand what we call

Illuminated Manuscripts John William Bradley 1873

When we use the word miniature as an art term, it does not mean simply a small picture as it does in ordinary conversation; it means the pictures executed by the hand of an illuminator or _miniator_ of manuscripts, and he is so called from the _minium_ or cinnabar which he used in making colors.

A History of Art for Beginners and Students Painting, Sculpture, Architecture Clara Erskine Clement Waters 1875