Oliver Cromwell

Sitterback to top

• Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658), Lord Protector of England. Sitter associated with 220 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Samuel Cooper (1609-1672), Miniature painter. Artist associated with 105 portraits, Sitter associated with 3 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Samuel Cooper, the miniaturist who was described by the Grand Duke of Tuscany as 'a tiny man, all wit and courtesy', produced this fine portrait of Oliver Cromwell in 1649, the year of Charles I's execution. Cromwell at the time was in the process of becoming the effective leader of the Parliamentarian forces and is depicted looking callous and determined but not yet disfigured by the pimples and warts that were the distinguishing features of later portraits of him.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Cooper, John, Great Britons: The Great Debate, 2002, p. 60
• Cooper, John, Oliver the First: Contemporary Images of Oliver Cromwell, 1999, p. 23
• Cooper, John, Visitor's Guide, 2000, p. 34
• Cooper, John, A Guide to the National Portrait Gallery, 2009, p. 25
• John Cooper, National Portrait Gallery Visitor's Guide, 2006, p. 34
• Rogers, Malcolm, Master Drawings from the National Portrait Gallery, 1993 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 5 August to 23 October 1994), p. 25
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery: An Illustrated Guide, 2000, p. 63
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 63
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 155
• Walker, Richard, Miniatures: 300 Years of the English Miniature, 1998, p. 30

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Miniatures
• On display at the Gallery