Bonhams
Lot 20
After Nicholas Hilliard, circa 1600Portrait of George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, bust-length, in armour bears inscription and date 'George Clifford Earle/ of Cumberland 1588' (centre right)oil on canvas73.6 x 61.7cm (29 x 24 5/16in).Footnotes:The present portrait is a rare, early version of the portrait that is related to the composition of circa 1590 by Nicholas Hilliard, which is a full-length miniature (now in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich; inv. no. MNT0193). An oil version, on panel, in the same bust-length format, is in the Bodleian Library in Oxford (inv. no. LP58; acquired some time between 1705 and 1759). The National Gallery in London have a 19th century copy of this same bust-length format (see: Sir R. Strong, Tudor and Jacobean Portraits, London, 1969, vol. I, p. 57, ill, vol. II., pl. 103). An equestrian portrait of the sitter in similar costume by Thomas Cockson is also known (British Museum, inv. no. 1849,0135.3), which is inscribed: 'AN EXPLANATION OF THE SVRPRISE OF THE TOWNE OF PVERTO RICO BY THE EARLE OF CUMBERLAND IN ANo 1598 the 15th May', and which was engraved circa 1598-99. George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland (1558-1605) was a favourite at the court of Elizabeth I. He commanded a ship at the Armada in 1588 and fitted out ten privateering expeditions against Spain and Spanish America between 1586 and 1598, sailing personally with those of 1589, 1591, 1593, and 1598. He is depicted here in tournament fancy dress, probably as the Queen's champion, an office to which he succeeded in 1590. The armour he is wearing in the portrait still survives and is in the Metropolitan Museum in New York.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: ** VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
