George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland
1 portrait by Nicholas Hilliard
© National Portrait Gallery, London
George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland
by George Perfect Harding, after Nicholas Hilliard
watercolour, early 19th century, based on a work of circa 1590
7 1/2 in. x 4 7/8 in. (191 mm x 125 mm)
Bequeathed by Henry Callcott Brunning, 1908
Primary Collection
NPG 1492(c)
Sitterback to top
- George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland (1558-1605), Naval commander. Sitter associated with 21 portraits.
Artistsback to top
- George Perfect Harding (1779 or 1780-1853), Portrait painter, copyist and antiquary. Artist or producer associated with 173 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.
- Nicholas Hilliard (circa 1547-1619), Miniature painter. Artist or producer associated with 34 portraits.
This portraitback to top
In 1590 Cumberland succeeded Sir Henry Lee as the queen's champion at court tournaments and this portrait was probably intended to celebrate that event. Harding described the original, which he copied when it was in the collection at Penshurst Place, as a 'curious' whole length.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 159
Portrait setback to top
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1590back to top
Current affairs
King James VI of Scotland brings his wife Anne of Denmark to Edinburgh for her coronation at Holyrood Abbey.Death of Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth I's Principal Secretary and spymaster.
The colonial governor John White returns to Roanoke Island (in present day North Carolina, USA) to find the settlement deserted. The lost colonists include his granddaughter Virginia Dare, the first English child to be born in America.
Art and science
The courtier, poet and soldier Sir Philip Sidney's pastoral romance Arcadia is published posthumously. It is one of the first English vernacular works to achieve a European readership, with translations into French, German, Dutch and Italian.The poet and administrator Edmund Spenser publishes the first three books of The Faerie Queene, an epic allegorical poem in praise of Queen Elizabeth I.
International
Henry IV of France defeats the Catholic League under Charles, Duke of Mayenne at the Battle of Ivry. The King marches on Paris before being driven back by Catholic forces sent by Philip II of Spain.Abbas I, Shah of Persia makes peace with the Ottoman Empire, allowing him to campaign agaist the Uzbeks.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi defeats the Hojo clan at the Siege of Odawara, Japan. The victory completes Hideyoshi's military reunification of Japan.
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