portrait reference
portrait head and shoulder
england
animal portrait
animal drawing portrait
portrait drawing
facial portrait
portrait art
fine art portrait
celebrity portrait
digital portrait
Dimensions 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 in. (49.53 x 39.37 cm) (panel)
Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger painted this portrait of Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, around 1599. As a portrait, it operates within conventions of class and status, reflecting the hierarchies of Elizabethan society. Devereux, a prominent figure in Queen Elizabeth's court, embodies power through his composed demeanor and costly attire. The elaborate ruff, the doublet, and the rich fabric signal his aristocratic position and the wealth that came with it. And yet, his story is far from simple. Devereux was ultimately executed for treason, reflecting the precarious nature of power and favor in the Tudor court. Gheeraerts's painting captures a moment before Devereux’s fall from grace. The portrait's existence speaks volumes about the relationship between image, identity, and power. It reminds us that portraits are not just representations but active participants in constructing and preserving social and political narratives.
Comments
The Earl of Essex was an English nobleman and a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I. Politically ambitious, and a committed general, he was placed under house arrest following a poor campaign in Ireland during the Nine Years' War in 1599. In 1601, he led a failed coup d'etat against the government and was executed for treason. During the mid-1590s, while Essex was still in favor at court, he relied upon celebrated Tudor artist Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger exclusively for portrait sittings. This work is a studio variant of his most famous portrait, now housed at Woburn Abbey in England.
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