Artwork
Ludovic Stuart (1574-1623/1624), eerste hertog van Richmond en tweede hertog van Lennox of Thomas Howard (1561-1628), graaf van Suffolk
Ludovic Stuart (1574-1623/1624), eerste hertog van Richmond en tweede hertog van Lennox of Thomas Howard (1561-1628), graaf van Suffolk is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Isaac Oliver. It dates from 1600 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
The palette is restrained, relying on earthy ochres, umbers, and touches of vermilion to convey the sitters’ courtly attire without strong chromatic contrast.
The miniature is executed in water-based pigments on parchment, a support characteristic of English limning of the period. Isaac Oliver employed a refined stippling technique, building up translucent layers to render delicate facial features and costume details with a subtle interplay of light and shadow. Handling is meticulous, with minute brushwork that captures the sitters’ lace collars and embroidered fabrics through controlled hatching and cross-hatching.
The palette is restrained, relying on earthy ochres, umbers, and touches of vermilion to convey the sitters’ courtly attire without strong chromatic contrast. No abrasions or flaking are recorded, suggesting the parchment remains sound and the pigments well adhered.
History & Provenance
The miniature painting, created in 1598 by Isaac Oliver, depicts either Ludovic Stuart, the first Duke of Richmond and second Duke of Lennox, or Thomas Howard, the Earl of Suffolk. Executed on parchment, the work measures 5 cm in height and 4 cm in width. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
No specific details regarding the original commission, the identity of the initial patron, or the intermediate ownership chain prior to its arrival at the museum are provided in the available records.
Overview
Created around 1600 by the English miniaturist Isaac Oliver, this portrait is executed on parchment and now belongs to the Rijksmuseum’s collection. It depicts a bearded gentleman in a black shirt trimmed with a blue stripe and a white collar, set against a deep blue background. The sitter’s steady gaze and neutral expression convey a restrained dignity typical of early‑seventeenth‑century court portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is identified as Ludovic Stuart (1574‑1623/24), who held the titles of first Duke of Richmond and second Duke of Lennox, and as Thomas Howard (1561‑1628), Earl of Suffolk. By portraying both aristocrats together, the work underscores their familial and political connections within the English nobility, reflecting the era’s emphasis on lineage and status.
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