ENGLISH SCHOOL (c.1610)

Portrait of a gentleman in a white doublet and ruff Oil on copper Oval, 8.5 x 7 cm Framed: 17cm x 15cm

Provenance Auction, Christie’s, South Kensington, 20 February 1997, lot 182; With Rafael Valls Ltd., London, 1999; Private Collection, The Netherlands.

The attractive sitter is depicted bust-length within the oval. He sports a sumptuous embroidered doublet made of a silver/white satin fabric. It is lined, stiffened and shaped to mould the sitters body and slashed to reveal the crimson lining beneath.

The most costly element of this gentlemans attire is his sumptuous face-framing ruff, Its plain fabric is embellished with needlework. It represents a literal wealth of fabric, folded and gathered in order to display the face (and face value) of its wearer – to the best advantage.

The sitter wears finery that would have befitted his economic status , in order to impress his contemporaries as well ass posterity. He also sports a fashionable love lock, a lock of hair hanging from the nape of the neck to the chest to show romantic attachment. Indeed this miniature itself may have been a token of esteem given to and held close, by a lover or confidante.

£7,950