Tudor and Elizabethan portraits

Film

Watch Painting Conservator Polly Saltmarsh demonstrate the techniques used in making Tudor art by re-creating the Queen Mary I portrait by Hans Eworth

An audio described version of this film is also available

Tudor and Elizabethan portraits

A selection of portraits from 1485 to 1603, many of which are on display at the Gallery or at Montacute House, our regional partner in Somerset. Portraits below are listed in chronological order.

Explore the Tudor pick-up guides

King Richard III, by Unknown artist, late 16th century, NPG 148, © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Richard III, by Unknown artist, late 16th century

Queen Elizabeth I, by Unknown English artist, circa 1600, NPG 5175, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Queen Elizabeth I, by Unknown English artist, circa 1600

King Henry VII, by Unknown Netherlandish artist, 1505, NPG 416, © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Henry VII, by Unknown Netherlandish artist, 1505

Anne Boleyn, by Unknown English artist, late 16th century, based on a work of circa 1533-1536, NPG 668, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Anne Boleyn, by Unknown English artist, late 16th century, based on a work of circa 1533-1536

King Henry VIII; King Henry VII, by Hans Holbein the Younger, circa 1536-1537, NPG 4027, © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Henry VIII; King Henry VII, by Hans Holbein the Younger, circa 1536-1537

Jane Seymour, after Hans Holbein the Younger, circa 1537, NPG 7025, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Jane Seymour, after Hans Holbein the Younger, circa 1537

Katherine of Aragon, by Unknown artist, early 18th century, NPG 163, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Katherine of Aragon, by Unknown artist, early 18th century

King Henry VIII, after Hans Holbein the Younger, probably 17th century, based on a work of 1536, NPG 157, © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Henry VIII, after Hans Holbein the Younger, probably 17th century, based on a work of 1536

Katherine Parr, attributed to Master John, circa 1545, NPG 4451, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Katherine Parr, attributed to Master John, circa 1545

Unknown woman, formerly known as Catherine Howard, after Hans Holbein the Younger, late 17th century, NPG 1119, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Unknown woman, formerly known as Catherine Howard, after Hans Holbein the Younger, late 17th century

Sir Thomas More, his father, his household and his descendants, by Rowland Lockey, after Hans Holbein the Younger, 1593, NPG 2765, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Sir Thomas More, his father, his household and his descendants, by Rowland Lockey, after Hans Holbein the Younger, 1593

Jane Seymour, after Hans Holbein the Younger, circa 1537, NPG 7025, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Jane Seymour, after Hans Holbein the Younger, circa 1537

Katherine Parr, by Unknown artist, late 16th century, NPG 4618, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Katherine Parr, by Unknown artist, late 16th century

King Henry VIII; King Henry VII; Elizabeth of York; Jane Seymour, by George Vertue, after Remigius van Leemput, after Hans Holbein the Younger, 1743, NPG D18545, © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Henry VIII; King Henry VII; Elizabeth of York; Jane Seymour, by George Vertue, after Remigius van Leemput, after Hans Holbein the Younger, 1743

King Henry VIII, by Unknown artist, perhaps early 17th century, based on a work of circa 1542, NPG 496, © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Henry VIII, by Unknown artist, perhaps early 17th century, based on a work of circa 1542

King Henry VIII, by Unknown Anglo-Netherlandish artist, circa 1520, NPG 4690, © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Henry VIII, by Unknown Anglo-Netherlandish artist, circa 1520

Anne of Cleves, by Wenceslaus Hollar, after Hans Holbein the Younger, 1648, NPG D11254, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Anne of Cleves, by Wenceslaus Hollar, after Hans Holbein the Younger, 1648

Katherine of Aragon, by Unknown artist, circa 1520, NPG L246, By permission of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Church Commissioners; on loan to the National Portrait Gallery, London — Katherine of Aragon, by Unknown artist, circa 1520

Thomas Wolsey, by Unknown artist, 1589-1595, based on a work of circa 1520, NPG 32, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Thomas Wolsey, by Unknown artist, 1589-1595, based on a work of circa 1520

Sir Thomas More, after Hans Holbein the Younger, early 17th century, based on a work of 1527, NPG 4358, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Sir Thomas More, after Hans Holbein the Younger, early 17th century, based on a work of 1527

Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, after Hans Holbein the Younger, early 17th century, based on a work of 1532-1533, NPG 1727, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, after Hans Holbein the Younger, early 17th century, based on a work of 1532-1533

Thomas Wentworth, 1st Baron Wentworth, by Unknown Anglo-Netherlandish artist, circa 1547-1550, NPG 1851, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Thomas Wentworth, 1st Baron Wentworth, by Unknown Anglo-Netherlandish artist, circa 1547-1550

William Warham, after Hans Holbein the Younger, early 17th century, based on a work of 1527, NPG 2094, © National Portrait Gallery, London — William Warham, after Hans Holbein the Younger, early 17th century, based on a work of 1527

Thomas Cranmer, by Gerlach Flicke, 1545-1546, NPG 535, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Thomas Cranmer, by Gerlach Flicke, 1545-1546

King Edward VI, by Unknown artist, after William Scrots, circa 1546, NPG 442, © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Edward VI, by Unknown artist, after William Scrots, circa 1546

King Edward VI, attributed to William Scrots, 1546, NPG 1299, © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Edward VI, attributed to William Scrots, 1546

Lady Jane Grey, by Unknown artist, circa 1590-1600, NPG 6804, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Lady Jane Grey, by Unknown artist, circa 1590-1600

King Edward VI, by Workshop associated with 'Master John', circa 1547, NPG 5511, © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Edward VI, by Workshop associated with 'Master John', circa 1547

King Edward VI and the Pope, by Unknown artist, circa 1575, NPG 4165, © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Edward VI and the Pope, by Unknown artist, circa 1575

Unknown woman, formerly known as Mary, Queen of Scots, by Unknown artist, circa 1570, NPG 96, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Unknown woman, formerly known as Mary, Queen of Scots, by Unknown artist, circa 1570

Queen Mary I, by Master John, 1544, NPG 428, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Queen Mary I, by Master John, 1544

Mary, Queen of Scots, after Nicholas Hilliard, inscribed 1578, NPG 429, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Mary, Queen of Scots, after Nicholas Hilliard, inscribed 1578

Queen Mary I, by Hans Eworth, 1554, NPG 4861, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Queen Mary I, by Hans Eworth, 1554

Sir Richard Southwell, after Hans Holbein the Younger, late 16th century, based on a work of 1536, NPG 4912, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Sir Richard Southwell, after Hans Holbein the Younger, late 16th century, based on a work of 1536

King Edward VI, after Hans Holbein the Younger, circa 1542, NPG 1132, © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Edward VI, after Hans Holbein the Younger, circa 1542

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, after William Scrots, circa 1570-1580s, based on a work of 1546, NPG 4952, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, after William Scrots, circa 1570-1580s, based on a work of 1546

Sir William Butts, after Hans Holbein the Younger, late 16th century, based on a work of circa 1540-1543, NPG 210, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Sir William Butts, after Hans Holbein the Younger, late 16th century, based on a work of circa 1540-1543

Nicholas Kratzer, after Hans Holbein the Younger, late 16th century, based on a work of 1528, NPG 5245, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Nicholas Kratzer, after Hans Holbein the Younger, late 16th century, based on a work of 1528

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, by Unknown Italian artist, 1546, NPG 5291, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, by Unknown Italian artist, 1546

William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, by Unknown Anglo-Netherlandish artist, 1560s, NPG 2184, © National Portrait Gallery, London — William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, by Unknown Anglo-Netherlandish artist, 1560s

Gerlach Flicke; Henry Strangwish (Strangways), by Gerlach Flicke, 1554, NPG 6353, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Gerlach Flicke; Henry Strangwish (Strangways), by Gerlach Flicke, 1554

William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, by Unknown artist, after 1587, NPG 362, © National Portrait Gallery, London — William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, by Unknown artist, after 1587

Queen Elizabeth I, by Nicholas Hilliard, circa 1575, NPG 190, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Queen Elizabeth I, by Nicholas Hilliard, circa 1575

Queen Elizabeth I, by Unknown continental artist, circa 1575, NPG 2082, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Queen Elizabeth I, by Unknown continental artist, circa 1575

Queen Elizabeth I ('The Ditchley portrait'), by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, circa 1592, NPG 2561, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Queen Elizabeth I ('The Ditchley portrait'), by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, circa 1592

Queen Elizabeth I, by Unknown English artist, circa 1588, NPG 541, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Queen Elizabeth I, by Unknown English artist, circa 1588

Queen Elizabeth I ('Elizabeth I and the Three Goddesses'), attributed to Isaac Oliver, circa 1588, NPG 6947, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Queen Elizabeth I ('Elizabeth I and the Three Goddesses'), attributed to Isaac Oliver, circa 1588

Queen Elizabeth I, by Unknown English artist, circa 1560, NPG 4449, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Queen Elizabeth I, by Unknown English artist, circa 1560

Sir Thomas Chaloner, by Unknown Flemish artist, 1559, NPG 2445, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Sir Thomas Chaloner, by Unknown Flemish artist, 1559

Sir Thomas Gresham, by Unknown Netherlandish artist, circa 1565, NPG 352, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Sir Thomas Gresham, by Unknown Netherlandish artist, circa 1565

Sir Henry Lee, by Anthonis Mor (Antonio Moro), 1568, NPG 2095, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Sir Henry Lee, by Anthonis Mor (Antonio Moro), 1568

Sir Philip Sidney, by Unknown artist, circa 1576, NPG 5732, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Sir Philip Sidney, by Unknown artist, circa 1576

Sir Henry Unton, by Unknown artist, circa 1596, NPG 710, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Sir Henry Unton, by Unknown artist, circa 1596

Sir Francis Walsingham, attributed to John De Critz the Elder, circa 1589, NPG 1807, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Sir Francis Walsingham, attributed to John De Critz the Elder, circa 1589

Sir Francis Drake, by Unknown artist, circa 1581, NPG 4032, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Sir Francis Drake, by Unknown artist, circa 1581

Philip II, King of Spain, by Unknown artist, circa 1580, NPG 347, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Philip II, King of Spain, by Unknown artist, circa 1580

Sir Walter Ralegh (Raleigh); Walter Ralegh, by Unknown artist, 1602, NPG 3914, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Sir Walter Ralegh (Raleigh); Walter Ralegh, by Unknown artist, 1602

Sir Richard Southwell, after Hans Holbein the Younger, late 16th century, based on a work of 1536, NPG 4912, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Sir Richard Southwell, after Hans Holbein the Younger, late 16th century, based on a work of 1536

Sir Walter Ralegh (Raleigh), by Unknown English artist, 1588, NPG 7, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Sir Walter Ralegh (Raleigh), by Unknown English artist, 1588

Sir Nicholas Bacon, by Unknown artist, inscribed 1579, NPG 164, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Sir Nicholas Bacon, by Unknown artist, inscribed 1579

Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, after Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, early 17th century, based on a work of circa 1596, NPG 180, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, after Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, early 17th century, based on a work of circa 1596

Sir Philip Sidney, by Unknown artist, circa 1576, NPG 5732, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Sir Philip Sidney, by Unknown artist, circa 1576

Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, by Unknown Anglo-Netherlandish artist, circa 1575, NPG 447, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, by Unknown Anglo-Netherlandish artist, circa 1575

George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, after Nicholas Hilliard, early 19th century, based on a work of 1590, NPG 277, © National Portrait Gallery, London — George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, after Nicholas Hilliard, early 19th century, based on a work of 1590

Sir Henry Sidney, by Unknown artist, 1573, NPG 1092, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Sir Henry Sidney, by Unknown artist, 1573

George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, by George Perfect Harding, after Nicholas Hilliard, early 19th century, based on a work of circa 1590, NPG 1492(c), © National Portrait Gallery, London — George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, by George Perfect Harding, after Nicholas Hilliard, early 19th century, based on a work of circa 1590

Sir Philip Sidney, after Unknown artist, 18th century or after, based on a work of circa 1576, NPG 2096, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Sir Philip Sidney, after Unknown artist, 18th century or after, based on a work of circa 1576

Probably Sir Robert Dudley, by Unknown artist, 1590s, NPG 2613, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Probably Sir Robert Dudley, by Unknown artist, 1590s

Sir Nicholas Throckmorton, by Unknown Anglo-Netherlandish artist, circa 1562, NPG 3800, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Sir Nicholas Throckmorton, by Unknown Anglo-Netherlandish artist, circa 1562

Sir William Petre, by Unknown artist, 1567, NPG 3816, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Sir William Petre, by Unknown artist, 1567

Robert Sidney, 1st Earl of Leicester, by Unknown artist, circa 1588, NPG 1862, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Robert Sidney, 1st Earl of Leicester, by Unknown artist, circa 1588

Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex, by Unknown artist, circa 1575, based on a work of 1572, NPG 4984, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex, by Unknown artist, circa 1575, based on a work of 1572

William Shakespeare, associated with John Taylor, circa 1610, NPG 1, © National Portrait Gallery, London — William Shakespeare, associated with John Taylor, circa 1610

William Shakespeare, by Martin Droeshout, 1632 or 1663-1664, NPG 185, © National Portrait Gallery, London — William Shakespeare, by Martin Droeshout, 1632 or 1663-1664

John Donne, by Unknown English artist, circa 1595, NPG 6790, © National Portrait Gallery, London — John Donne, by Unknown English artist, circa 1595

Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, attributed to studio of Nicholas Hilliard, circa 1595, NPG 6241, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, attributed to studio of Nicholas Hilliard, circa 1595

Michael Drayton, by Unknown artist, 1599, NPG 776, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Michael Drayton, by Unknown artist, 1599

Mary Neville, Lady Dacre; Gregory Fiennes, 10th Baron Dacre, by Hans Eworth, 1559, NPG 6855, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Mary Neville, Lady Dacre; Gregory Fiennes, 10th Baron Dacre, by Hans Eworth, 1559

Henry, Prince of Wales, by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, circa 1603, NPG 2562, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Henry, Prince of Wales, by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, circa 1603

Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, circa 1597, NPG 4985, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, circa 1597

Possibly Lucy Russell (née Harington), Countess of Bedford, by Unknown artist, circa 1603, NPG 5688, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Possibly Lucy Russell (née Harington), Countess of Bedford, by Unknown artist, circa 1603

The Somerset House Conference, 1604, by Unknown artist, 1604, NPG 665, © National Portrait Gallery, London — The Somerset House Conference, 1604, by Unknown artist, 1604

King James I of England and VI of Scotland, by Unknown artist, late 16th century, based on a work of 1574, NPG 63, © National Portrait Gallery, London — King James I of England and VI of Scotland, by Unknown artist, late 16th century, based on a work of 1574

Anne, Lady Pope with her children, by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, 1596, NPG L231, Private Collection, c/o Nevill Keating Pictures — Anne, Lady Pope with her children, by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, 1596

Sir Thomas Coningsby, by Unknown artist, 1572, NPG 4348, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Sir Thomas Coningsby, by Unknown artist, 1572

King William I ('The Conqueror'), by Unknown artist, 1597-1618, NPG 4980(1), © National Portrait Gallery, London — King William I ('The Conqueror'), by Unknown artist, 1597-1618

King Henry I, by Unknown artist, 1597-1618, NPG 4980(2), © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Henry I, by Unknown artist, 1597-1618

King Stephen, by Unknown artist, 1597-1618, NPG 4980(3), © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Stephen, by Unknown artist, 1597-1618

King Henry II, by Unknown artist, 1597-1618, NPG 4980(4), © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Henry II, by Unknown artist, 1597-1618

King John, by Unknown artist, 1597-1618, NPG 4980(5), © National Portrait Gallery, London — King John, by Unknown artist, 1597-1618

King Edward I, by Unknown artist, 1597-1618, NPG 4980(6), © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Edward I, by Unknown artist, 1597-1618

King Edward III, by Unknown artist, 1597-1618, NPG 4980(7), © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Edward III, by Unknown artist, 1597-1618

King Henry IV, by Unknown artist, 1597-1618, NPG 4980(9), © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Henry IV, by Unknown artist, 1597-1618

King Edward IV, by Unknown artist, 1597-1618, NPG 4980(10), © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Edward IV, by Unknown artist, 1597-1618

King Edward V, by Unknown artist, 1597-1618, NPG 4980(11), © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Edward V, by Unknown artist, 1597-1618

King Richard III, by Unknown artist, 1597-1618, NPG 4980(12), © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Richard III, by Unknown artist, 1597-1618

King Henry VII, after Unknown artist, 1597-1618, NPG 4980(13), © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Henry VII, after Unknown artist, 1597-1618

King Henry VIII, by Unknown artist, 1597-1618, NPG 4980(14), © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Henry VIII, by Unknown artist, 1597-1618

Elizabeth of York, by Unknown artist, late 16th century, based on a work of circa 1500, NPG 311, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Elizabeth of York, by Unknown artist, late 16th century, based on a work of circa 1500

King Henry V, by Unknown artist, late 16th or early 17th century, NPG 545, © National Portrait Gallery, London — King Henry V, by Unknown artist, late 16th or early 17th century