Nicholas Hilliard | Masterpiece 2022

This rare and important profile portrait by Elizabethan miniaturist Nicholas Hilliard is a significant addition to Hilliard’s oeuvre as it is one of only two known miniatures the artist painted in profile.

Dating to the late 16th century, Hilliard has left us clues to help us identify the sitter of this portrait including the sitter’s Greenwich armour and the three of spades playing card which the miniature is laid down on.

This carefully observed portrait miniature is a highlight of our curated collection of works on display throughout Masterpiece 2022 which is open to the public from Thursday 30 July.

Nicholas Hilliard, ‘A Gentleman, possibly Sir Robert Dudley (1574-1649) in profile, wearing Greenwich white and gilt armour’. Watercolour and shell gold, on vellum laid down on a playing card (three of spades), c. 1590-95.