Unknown man, formerly known as George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham

Sitterback to top

• George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (1592-1628), Courtier; favourite of James I. Sitter associated with 48 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Cornelius De Neve (1612?-1678?). Artist associated with 3 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This portrait was once thought to represent the nobleman George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, a favourite of King James I. However, this identification has now been revised as the sitter's features bear little resemblance to other known portraits of Buckingham.
The identity of the sitter is not known but he is unlikely to be British. The distinctive orange sash is similar to those worn by officers of the Dutch army in the Netherlands who served under the Princes of Orange. It is therefore likely that this dashing man is an officer in the Dutch militia.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Cooper, Tarnya (introduction) Banville, John (character sketch) Chevalier, Tracy (character sketch) Fellowes, Julian (character sketch) McCall Smith, Alexander (character sketch) Pratchett, Terry (character sketch) Singleton, Sarah (character sketch) Trollope, Joanna (character sketch) Waters, Minette (character sketch), Imagined Lives: Portraits of Unknown People, 2011 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from December 2011 - June 2012), p. 17
• Piper, David, Catalogue of Seventeenth Century Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery, 1625-1714, 1963, p. 41
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 692

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

• Imagined Lives: Portraits of Unknown People (3 December 2011 - 8 July 2012)