Sir Walter Ralegh (Raleigh)
(1554-1618), Soldier, sailor, poet and writerSir Walter Ralegh
Sitter in 48 portraits
A poet, explorer, soldier, sailor, courtier and favourite of Elizabeth I, Ralegh was a true 'Renaissance Man'. Much of his literary work is lost, but about thirty short poems and various prose works survive, including The History of the World. He organised and financed a number of expeditions to North America, and in later life made several unsuccessful attempts to find gold in South America. The family home was at Sherborne Castle, in Dorset. Implicated in a plotting against James I, Ralegh spent much of the Kings reign in the Tower. He was executed for treason in 1618.
More on Sir Walter Ralegh: Tudor & Jacobean Portraits book in our Shops | Shakespeare and his contemporaries book in our Shops | Elizabethan Treasures: Miniatures by Hilliard and Oliver catalogue in our Shops
Watch a film clip on the sitter from the BBC Archive in the Media section below
by Nicholas Hilliard
watercolour on vellum, circa 1585
NPG 4106
by Unknown English artist
oil on panel, 1588
On display in Room 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 7
Sir Walter Ralegh (Raleigh); Walter Ralegh
by Unknown artist
oil on canvas, 1602
On display in the Long Gallery at Montacute House
NPG 3914
after Simon de Passe
line engraving, (1617)
NPG D22914
by Simon de Passe, published by Compton Holland
line engraving, published 1617
NPG D25421
after Simon de Passe
line engraving, (1617)
NPG D27998
printed for Matt. Gillyflower, after Simon de Passe
line engraving, (1617)
NPG D27999
after Simon de Passe
line engraving, (1617)
NPG D19398
by Simon de Passe, published by Compton Holland
line engraving, published 1617
NPG D21166
by Simon de Passe, published by Compton Holland
line engraving, published 1617
NPG D21167
by Simon de Passe, published by Compton Holland
line engraving, published 1617 (1614)
NPG D21168
after Simon de Passe
line engraving, (1617)
NPG D21169
after Simon de Passe
line engraving, (1617)
NPG D21173
after Simon de Passe
line engraving, (1617)
NPG D21174
after Simon de Passe
line engraving, (1617)
NPG D21176
by Robert Vaughan, after Simon de Passe
line engraving, published 1650 (1617)
NPG D28000
by Robert Vaughan, after Simon de Passe
line engraving, published 1650 (1617)
NPG D21170
by Robert Vaughan, after Simon de Passe
line engraving, published 1650 (1617)
NPG D21171
by Robert Vaughan, after Simon de Passe
line engraving, published 1650 (1617)
NPG D21172
by Frederick Hendrik van Hove, after Simon de Passe
line engraving, circa 1650-1690 (1617)
NPG D21175
Tell us more back to top
Can you tell us more about this person? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.
If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, please use our Rights and Images service.
Please note that we cannot provide valuations.
We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.