Isaac Oliver
(circa 1565-1617), Miniature painterSitter in 5 portraits
Artist associated with 73 portraits
Oliver was born in Rouen and came to England with his family as a Huguenot refugee. He learnt the art of miniature painting from Nicholas Hilliard but unlike Hilliard, and as a result of his understanding of continental art, he used light and shade (chiaroscuro) to develop a softer, more illusionistic style. Oliver was appointed miniaturist to Anne of Denmark, wife of James I, and later to their eldest son Henry, Prince of Wales.
More on Isaac Oliver: Elizabethan Treasures: Miniatures by Hilliard & Oliver exhibition
Queen Elizabeth I ('Elizabeth I and the Three Goddesses')
attributed to Isaac Oliver
watercolour and bodycolour on vellum, circa 1588
NPG 6947
Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby
by Isaac Oliver
watercolour on vellum, circa 1590
NPG 6302
by Isaac Oliver
watercolour on vellum, circa 1590
NPG 4852
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
by Isaac Oliver
watercolour on vellum, after 1596
NPG 4966
Edward Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Cherbury
possibly after Isaac Oliver
oil on canvas, feigned oval, 17th century?, based on a work of circa 1603-1605
NPG 487
Ludovick Stuart, 2nd Duke of Lennox and Duke of Richmond
by Isaac Oliver
watercolour and bodycolour on vellum, heart-shaped, circa 1605
On display in Room 5 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 3063
Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork
by Isaac Oliver
watercolour on vellum, circa 1610-1615
On display in Room 5 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 2494
after Isaac Oliver
oil on canvas, circa 1610, based on a work of circa 1610
NPG 407
Lucy Russell (née Harington), Countess of Bedford
by Isaac Oliver
watercolour and bodycolour with gold on vellum, turned wood frame, circa 1610-1615
On display in Room 5 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 7125
- Find out more >
- Buy a print
- Buy as a greetings card
- Use this image
- Recent acquisition
studio of Isaac Oliver
watercolour on vellum, circa 1616, based on a work of circa 1616
NPG 3064
after Isaac Oliver
oil on canvas, possibly late 17th century, based on a work of 1616
NPG 1849
after Isaac Oliver
line engraving, 17th century
NPG D21407
by Crispijn de Passe the Elder, after Isaac Oliver
line engraving, 1603 or after
NPG D25180
by Simon de Passe, after Isaac Oliver
line engraving, circa 1615-1620
NPG D42191
by Crispyn van den Queborne, after Isaac Oliver
line engraving, 1625
NPG D18835
by Charles David, after Isaac Oliver
engraving, circa 1625-1636
NPG D20336
probably by William Faithorne, published by Sir Robert Peake, after Isaac Oliver
line engraving, circa 1640
NPG D22813
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
after Isaac Oliver
line engraving, possibly 18th century
NPG D25136
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.