Ludovic Stuart (1574-1623/1624), eerste hertog van Richmond en tweede hertog van Lennox of Thomas Howard (1561-1628), graaf van Suffolk 1580 - 1617

This is a portrait miniature of either Ludovic Stuart or Thomas Howard, painted in England in the early 17th century by Isaac Oliver. Miniatures like this were more than just pretty objects; they were potent symbols of status, power, and social connection. Commissioned by the sitter, or sometimes given as diplomatic gifts, they offer insight into the network of patronage that sustained artists like Oliver. The sitter’s elaborate clothing, the jewel-like detail, and even the precious materials used in the painting itself, speak to the wealth and status of the sitter. Consider how institutions such as the court shaped artistic production during this period. Oliver's work reflects the values and aspirations of the English elite. To understand it fully, we need to look at sources such as letters, inventories, and court records, to uncover the social relations of art. In doing so we discover how images such as this one both reflected and reinforced existing social hierarchies.