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Sir Richard Southwell

(1502 or 1503-1564), Courtier and official

Sitter in 1 portrait
A courtier at the court of Henry VIII who was a close associate of Thomas Cromwell, Southwell took an active part in the dissolution of the monasteries and became rich in the process. He was one of the agents sent to remove the books and extract a confession from Sir Thomas More, and in 1546 accused his childhood friend the Earl of Surrey of treason. He was Master of the Ordnance from 1554-60.

Watch a film clip on the sitter from the BBC Archive in the Media section below

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Sir Richard Southwell

after Hans Holbein the Younger
oil on panel, late 16th century, based on a work of 1536
NPG 4912

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Sir Richard Southwell

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