Portrait miniature of an unknown youth in yellow thumbnail 1
Portrait miniature of an unknown youth in yellow thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level F , Case RMC, Shelf 1, Box A

Portrait miniature of an unknown youth in yellow

Portrait Miniature
ca. 1585-1590 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This portrait is typical of Hilliard’s style. His approach was much more schematic than that of his student, Isaac Oliver, summing up in a marvellous economy of lines the distinguishing facial features. In Hilliard’s work the details of the costume were almost as important as the facial likeness, as in this handsome portrait of an unknown young man, whose bejewelled bonnet with its feathery aigrette, intricate ruff and splendid doublet indicate his high status.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePortrait miniature of an unknown youth in yellow (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour on vellum
Brief description
Portrait miniature of an unknown youth in yellow with a bonnet and feather, ca. 1585-1590, watercolour on vellum, painted by Nicholas Hilliard (1547-1619).
Physical description
Portrait miniature of an unknown youth in yellow with a bonnet and feather, watercolour on vellum.
Dimensions
  • Case diameter: 66mm
  • Case depth: 8mm
Object history
This is one of five miniatures acquired from the Radnor collection. See P.2-1974 for a history of the group.

This is one of five miniatures from the Radnor collection (P.1 to 5-1974), all of which were reframed at the time of acquisition for conservation reasons and are now housed in 1970s frames. The original ivory box and lid for each medallion is currently held in storage.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This portrait is typical of Hilliard’s style. His approach was much more schematic than that of his student, Isaac Oliver, summing up in a marvellous economy of lines the distinguishing facial features. In Hilliard’s work the details of the costume were almost as important as the facial likeness, as in this handsome portrait of an unknown young man, whose bejewelled bonnet with its feathery aigrette, intricate ruff and splendid doublet indicate his high status.
Associated object
Bibliographic reference
Coombs, Katherine British watercolours : 1750-1950 . London: V&A Publications, 2012 p.17, pl.5
Collection
Accession number
P.4:1-1974

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Record createdJanuary 6, 2003
Record URL
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