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facing left in patterned black doublet, black cloak with elaborate black lining, high lace ruff, moustache and beard, oval blue background with gold border within gold-bordered green surround, the outer border decorated with curling foliage, butterflies, bunches of grapes on brown ground within gold dart and egg border, the reverse with coat-of-arms, dated 1579 Christie's London An impresssive bid was a high quality miniature which only bore a pre-sale estimate of betwen US $ 13,000 and 19,000. In fact, there is little surprise in seeing Hilliard at such level since he has long been hailed as the greatest miniature painter in England after Holbein. Another miniature by Hilliard showing Marguerite de Valois, Queen of Navarre, facing left in black dress with jewelled chain, three brown bows set with jewelled clasps and pair of lapis tassels, lace-edged ruff, brown sleeves with floral posies at her shoulders, white plumed and jewelled aigrette in her black cap and three rubies in her fair hair dated 1577, Oval 57 mm high, fetched £ 24,000 (US $ 38,000), three times more than the low estimate. |
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