Sir Christopher Hatton
Portrait Miniature
1588-1591 (painted)
1588-1591 (painted)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This miniature was a rare experiment by Hilliard of a full-length miniature on a minute scale. Hilliard was attempting to challenge his former pupil and rival Isaac Oliver. Unfortunately, it reveals Hilliard's ignorance of Renaissance laws of perspective since the lines of the table and window go impossibly in opposite directions to and from the vanishing point. Hilliard seems as uncomfortable with this format as Hatton does, the whole effect being unfortunately cramped and squat. It was clearly an unsuccessful format and was quickly abandoned.
People
Sir Christopher Hatton, Lord Chancellor, rose rapidly in the Queen's favour, having first been Captain of the Guard in 1572. In this miniature he is shown wearing his robes of state and, as a Knight of the Order of the Garter, both its collar and on his left leg the garter itself. His ceremonial mace and seal bag are on the table to his right.
Ownership & Use
The dog at Hatton's feet was probably intended as a symbol of loyalty and it is possible that this miniature was intended for the Queen. Hatton in his youth was famed for his good looks and was one of the Queen's favourites. In old age she remained as devoted to her servant as he was to her.
This miniature was a rare experiment by Hilliard of a full-length miniature on a minute scale. Hilliard was attempting to challenge his former pupil and rival Isaac Oliver. Unfortunately, it reveals Hilliard's ignorance of Renaissance laws of perspective since the lines of the table and window go impossibly in opposite directions to and from the vanishing point. Hilliard seems as uncomfortable with this format as Hatton does, the whole effect being unfortunately cramped and squat. It was clearly an unsuccessful format and was quickly abandoned.
People
Sir Christopher Hatton, Lord Chancellor, rose rapidly in the Queen's favour, having first been Captain of the Guard in 1572. In this miniature he is shown wearing his robes of state and, as a Knight of the Order of the Garter, both its collar and on his left leg the garter itself. His ceremonial mace and seal bag are on the table to his right.
Ownership & Use
The dog at Hatton's feet was probably intended as a symbol of loyalty and it is possible that this miniature was intended for the Queen. Hatton in his youth was famed for his good looks and was one of the Queen's favourites. In old age she remained as devoted to her servant as he was to her.
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Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Sir Christopher Hatton (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour on vellum stuck to a playing card. The backing card has the four clubs printed on it. |
| Brief description | Portrait miniature of Sir Christopher Hatton, watercolour on vellum, painted by Nicholas Hilliard, 1588-1591. |
| Physical description | Portrait miniature in an oval frame of a man standing, depicted full-length; at the top of the frame are two loops and a flower. |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
Nicholas Hilliard and Miniature Painting Nicholas Hilliard trained as a goldsmith and developed painting techniques that exploited this training. He used metallic pigments to mimic the jewellery on the opulent clothes that were fashionable. Hilliard created the image of Elizabeth and her courtiers that we know today, but he never won a salaried position at court. He had to set up shop in the City of London. From there he painted anyone who could afford his services. Christopher Hatton (1540-1591) was a favourite of Elizabeth I. Favourites such as Hatton and Robert Dudley were etablished political leaders. Hatton, as Lord Chancellor, chose to be painted by Hilliard in his robes of state.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by George Salting |
| Object history | COLLECTIONS: Either this or the version at Belvoir Castle, Stowe sale March 15th 1849 (lot 87); J. L. Propert Collection; purchased by Salting at the dispersal of his collection by the Fine Art Society, 1897; bequeathed with the Salting Bequest, 1910. |
| Production | Hatton was made a Knight of the Garter in 1588 and died in 1591. In the miniature he is depicted wearing a chain with a pendant of St. George, so the miniature must have been painted at some point between these two dates. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type This miniature was a rare experiment by Hilliard of a full-length miniature on a minute scale. Hilliard was attempting to challenge his former pupil and rival Isaac Oliver. Unfortunately, it reveals Hilliard's ignorance of Renaissance laws of perspective since the lines of the table and window go impossibly in opposite directions to and from the vanishing point. Hilliard seems as uncomfortable with this format as Hatton does, the whole effect being unfortunately cramped and squat. It was clearly an unsuccessful format and was quickly abandoned. People Sir Christopher Hatton, Lord Chancellor, rose rapidly in the Queen's favour, having first been Captain of the Guard in 1572. In this miniature he is shown wearing his robes of state and, as a Knight of the Order of the Garter, both its collar and on his left leg the garter itself. His ceremonial mace and seal bag are on the table to his right. Ownership & Use The dog at Hatton's feet was probably intended as a symbol of loyalty and it is possible that this miniature was intended for the Queen. Hatton in his youth was famed for his good looks and was one of the Queen's favourites. In old age she remained as devoted to her servant as he was to her. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | P.138-1910 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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