Sir Francis Drake
4 of 39 portraits of Sir Francis Drake
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Sir Francis Drake
after an engraving attributed to Jodocus Hondius
oil on panel, circa 1583
12 1/2 in. x 12 3/8 in. (318 mm x 324 mm)
Purchased, 1911
Primary Collection
NPG 1627
Sitterback to top
- Sir Francis Drake (1540-1596), Admiral and circumnavigator. Sitter associated with 39 portraits.
Artistback to top
- Jodocus Hondius (1563-1611), Artist, engraver and cartographer. Artist or producer associated with 10 portraits, Sitter in 2 portraits.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Dodd, Christopher, Unto the tideway born, 2015, p. 51
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 186
- Schama, Simon, The Face of Britain: The Nation Through its Portraits, 2015-09-15, p. 254
- Strong, Roy, Tudor and Jacobean Portraits, 1969, p. 69
Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top
- Simon Schama's Face of Britain: Fame (14 September 2015 - 4 January 2016)
Events of 1583back to top
Current affairs
Francis Throckmorton plots to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I and place Mary, Queen of Scots on the English throne. The conspiracy is uncovered and Throckmorton is executed.Sir Humphrey Gilbert establishes an English colony in Newfoundland. He is drowned on the return voyage.
The revolt in Munster, Ireland, against English rule ends with the execution of the rebel leader the Earl of Desmond. The region is devastated by famine and plague.
Art and science
The first recorded life insurance policy is issued in London.The Italian botanist Andrea Cesalpino publishes De plantis (Of Plants) the first modern classification of plants.
International
The French Fury - François, Duke of Anjou attacks Antwerp in an attempt to assert French authority in the Spanish Netherlands. He fails to capture the city and retires to France.The Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II moves the Imperial Court from Vienna to Prague.
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.