ENGLISH, 18th Century (Nicholas Hilliard tradition, 1547-1619)
Miniature Portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh
c.1700
Oil on panel
7 x 5 1/2 inches, unframed
Sir Walter Raleigh was an English explorer, soldier and writer. At age 17, he fought with the French Huguenots and later studied at Oxford. He became a favorite of Queen Elizabeth after serving in her army in Ireland. He was knighted in 1585, and within two years became Captain of the Queen's Guard. Between 1584 and 1589, he helped establish a colony near Roanoke Island (present-day North Carolina), which he named Virginia. Accused of treason by King James I, Sir Walter Raleigh was imprisoned and eventually put to death.
Contemporary portraits of Sir Walter Raleigh are rare: the National Portrait Gallery's miniature by Nicholas Hilliard of around 1585 being the best known and best documented example, together with the double portrait of Sir Walter and his son Walt, of 1603, also in the National Portrait Gallery, which has sadly suffered from condition problems.
Raleigh was known to spend an hour-and-a-half each day preparing his clothes and appearance, in order to suit court expectations.