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Miniature
Hilliard, Nicholas, born 1542 - died 1619 - Enlarge image
Miniature
- Place of origin:
London, England (painted)
- Date:
1571-1574 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Hilliard, Nicholas, born 1542 - died 1619 (painter (artist))
- Materials and Techniques:
Watercolour on vellum
- Credit Line:
Given by the Rt. Hon. Viscount Harcourt
- Museum number:
E.1174-1988
- Gallery location:
British Galleries, room 57a, case 3
Object Type
Miniature painting, or limning as it was traditionally called, developed from the art of illustrating sacred books, also called limning. Nicholas Hilliard first trained as a goldsmith and in his early days as a limner was experimental in his approach to the art. In this miniature he kept the traditional round format, but in place of the conventional blue background painted a decorative pattern on a silver ground, which has now tarnished.
People
Robert Dudley was the fifth son of the Duke of Northumberland. He rose rapidly to favour under Elizabeth I who made him Master of the Horse in 1558 and a privy councillor in 1559. He long hoped to marry the Queen, but the death of his wife in suspicious circumstances made this politically unwise. Dudley however remained a favourite, and in 1564 Elizabeth created him Earl of Leicester.
Patronage
Leicester was a notable patron of the arts and letters. In 1571, the year of his first known work as a limner, Hilliard prepared a 'booke of portraitures' for Leicester. In 1572 he painted the Queen for the first time, and it is likely that he got this commission through the influence of Leicester. Hilliard's gratitude to Leicester was such that he named his children after Leicester or those close to him.
