George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland

Sitterback to top

• George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland (1558-1605), Naval commander. Sitter associated with 21 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Nicholas Hilliard (1547-1619), Miniature painter. Artist associated with 34 portraits.

This portraitback to top

The eldest son of Henry de Clifford, George succeeded his father to become the 3rd Earl of Cumberland in 1570. A gambler who wasted his family's estates, he was nonetheless a favourite at Elizabeth I's court. As a naval commander he commanded one of the queen's ships against the Armada and fitted out ten privateering expeditions against Spain and its colonies. This portrait is an early nineteenth-century copy after the panel portrait in the Bodleian, Oxford. It shows the Earl in tournament fancy dress wearing a grey jacket adorned with magnificent jewels in gold mounts over armour decorated with gilt bands and stars. On his head he wears a hat with a turned-up brim lined with white and topped with pink ostrich plumes.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 159
• Strong, Roy, Tudor and Jacobean Portraits, 1969, p. 57

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Hats and head-attire
• Jewellery