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Miniature thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 56, The Djanogly Gallery

Miniature

ca. 1613 (made)
Artist/Maker

Object Type
After the childless Elizabeth I (ruled 1558-1603), James I (ruled 1603-1625) offered the nation a hopeful dynastic future. He had a young family: Prince Henry (1594-1612), who was his heir, Prince Charles (1600-1649) and Princess Elizabeth (1596-1662). James embraced portraiture as a way to promote the new Stuart dynasty. During this reign, there was a massive proliferation of miniature portraits of members of the Royal Family.

People
Princess Elizabeth, daughter of James I of England, married Frederick V, Elector Palatine of the Rhine (1596-1632), in 1613. The couple became King and Queen of Bohemia in 1619, but were exiled in 1621. They became a causecélèbre in Europe. Elizabeth used miniatures as propaganda weapons, to keep the couple in the minds and hearts of their supporters. She lived in exile mostly in The Hague, The Netherlands. At her court she employed English miniaturists such as Alexander Cooper (around 1609-?1658). The couple's grandson became George I of England (ruled 1714-1727), the first of the Hanoverian dynasty.

This portrait of Princess Elizabeth is a version of a miniature painted to celebrate her marriage to Frederick in 1613. All the known versions of this miniature are by Isaac Oliver (born about 1558, died 1617), or follow his style. But Nicholas Hilliard (possibly born in 1547, died 1619) was miniature painter to Elizabeth's father James I. It is therefore possible that the original was by Hilliard.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Watercolour on vellum, with frame of ebony on oak
Brief description
Elizabeth of Bohemia
Dimensions
  • Frame height: 27.5cm
  • Frame width: 19.4cm
  • Frame depth: 2.7cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 23/04/1999 by DW
Gallery label
British Galleries: MINIATURES OF THE ROYAL FAMILY
Probably framed together 1625-1650
James I's young family, celebrated in this group of miniatures, offered hope of a secure dynasty. Prince Henry, James I's elder son, was a noted patron of artists, who died suddenly aged 18. Miniatures were given as personal gifts and were small enough to be worn to mark a courtier's loyalty. Painted in the studios of Nicholas Hilliard (born in Exeter, Devon, possibly 1547, died in London, 1619) and Isaac Oliver (born about 1558-1568 possibly in Rouen, France, died in London, 1617)(27/03/2003)
Credit line
The Salting Bequest
Object history
Probably painted by Isaac Oliver
Summary
Object Type
After the childless Elizabeth I (ruled 1558-1603), James I (ruled 1603-1625) offered the nation a hopeful dynastic future. He had a young family: Prince Henry (1594-1612), who was his heir, Prince Charles (1600-1649) and Princess Elizabeth (1596-1662). James embraced portraiture as a way to promote the new Stuart dynasty. During this reign, there was a massive proliferation of miniature portraits of members of the Royal Family.

People
Princess Elizabeth, daughter of James I of England, married Frederick V, Elector Palatine of the Rhine (1596-1632), in 1613. The couple became King and Queen of Bohemia in 1619, but were exiled in 1621. They became a causecélèbre in Europe. Elizabeth used miniatures as propaganda weapons, to keep the couple in the minds and hearts of their supporters. She lived in exile mostly in The Hague, The Netherlands. At her court she employed English miniaturists such as Alexander Cooper (around 1609-?1658). The couple's grandson became George I of England (ruled 1714-1727), the first of the Hanoverian dynasty.

This portrait of Princess Elizabeth is a version of a miniature painted to celebrate her marriage to Frederick in 1613. All the known versions of this miniature are by Isaac Oliver (born about 1558, died 1617), or follow his style. But Nicholas Hilliard (possibly born in 1547, died 1619) was miniature painter to Elizabeth's father James I. It is therefore possible that the original was by Hilliard.
Associated objects
Bibliographic reference
Graham Reynolds, 'Portraits by Nicholas Hilliard and his Assistants of King James I and his Family', The Volume of the Walpole Society, vol. 34, 1952, pp. 14–26
Collection
Accession number
P.152-1910

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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