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facing left in embroided black silk doublet with elaborately embroided lace cuffs and stiff collar, long fair curled hair falling on his collar in a lovelock, black hooped earring, holding his right hand to his chest, folded red curtain background, watercolour on vellum laid down on card,, silver-gilt frame with spiral cresting Christie's London. This bid equalled the average estimate for a late work of Isaac Oliver, one of the greatest English miniaturists. Born of Huguenot parents, Isaac Oliver came to England in 1568 and learnt the art of limning with Nicholas Hilliard but by 1595 had become his chief rival. This portrait of a courtier was dated to circa 1610 by the freedom of Oliver's style and by the type of lace edged collar worn by the sitter. The position of the latter's hand on the heart would indicate that this miniature was intended as a love-token. |
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