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Portrait of Robert Sidney, Viscount Lisle, 1st Earl of Leicester of the second creation (1563-1626)

Miniature
ca. 1590 (made)
Artist/Maker
Nicholas Hilliard (maker)
Place of origin
Britain (made)

Watercolour on vellum, stuck onto playing card with 3 clubs verso. Robert Sidney, Viscount Lisle, is depicted facing left in a black doublet and white lawn collar. He has a fair moustache, beard and curling hair and is against a blue background.

Object details

Categories
Paintings
Portraits
Object type
Miniature
TitlePortrait of Robert Sidney, Viscount Lisle, 1st Earl of Leicester of the second creation (1563-1626) (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour on vellum, mounted on card with 3 clubs verso.
Vellum
Painting
Brief description
Portrait miniature on vellum by Nicholas Hilliard depicting Robert Sidney, Viscount Lisle, 1st Earl of Leicester. Great Britain, ca. 1590.
Physical description
Watercolour on vellum, stuck onto playing card with 3 clubs verso. Robert Sidney, Viscount Lisle, is depicted facing left in a black doublet and white lawn collar. He has a fair moustache, beard and curling hair and is against a blue background.
Dimensions
  • Sight size, oval height: 37mm
  • Sight size, oval width: 32mm
Sight size. Oval 37 x 32 mm
Object history
Item Provenance: The estate of the late Rt. Hon. Viscount Harcourt, K.C.M.G., O.B.E.

Exhibitions: Special Exhibition of Portrait Miniatures on loan at the South Kensington Museum, London, 1865. No. 1711.

This miniature is one of ten by various artists acquired as a group and displayed into frames. Nine of these miniatures are in the V&A collection, E.1170-1178-1988. The tenth miniature by Nicholas Hilliard of the poet Mary Herbert, Countess of Pembroke is now held by the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Subject depicted
Robert Sidney
Associated objects
Bibliographic references
  • Strong, Sir Roy, "The Leicester House Miniatures: Robert Sidney, 1st Earl of Leicester and his circle", Burlington Magazine CXXVII, October 1988, p.701, cat No. V, fig. 51.
  • The following in an excerpt from a valuation report made by Christie's of the estate of the late Rt. Hon. Viscount Harcourt, K. C. M. G., O. B. E. "The identification of this miniature is not certain as there is no inscription on the reverse, but it does compare very favourably with the portrait of Robert Sidney in the NPG, ca. 1588. Judging from the treatment of the hair which is free and expressive, the miniature dates from before the time that he adopted Oliver's style in 1593. It is possible that it dates from the period when the sitter was Governor of Flushing. Robert Dudley, (1563-1626), second son of Sir Henry Sidney and Mary Dudley. M.P. for Glamorganshire. Went to the Netherlands as Governor of Flushing and Commander of a trop of horses; wounded at the siege of Steenwyck, of 1592; distinguished at battle of Turnhout, 1598; chief channel of communication between the court and Essex during the disturbances to Essex's rebellion of 1601; created Baron Sidney by James I, 1603; Viscount Lisle, 1605 and Earl of Leicester 1618. Married Barbara Gamage (d. 1621)."
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.1171-1988

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Record createdNovember 24, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O173589/portrait-of-robert-sidney-viscount-miniature-nicholas-hilliard/
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