Unknown man, formerly known as John Speed

by Unknown artist
oil on panel, circa 1550-1575
23 3/4 in. x 17 3/8 in. (603 mm x 441 mm)
Transferred from British Museum, 1879
Primary Collection
NPG 571

Sitterback to top

John Speed (1552?-1629), Historian and cartographer. Sitter associated with 9 portraits.

Artistback to top

Unknown artist, Artist. Artist associated with 6556 portraits.

Linked publicationsback to top

Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 688
Strong, Roy, Tudor and Jacobean Portraits, 1969, p. 301

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1550back to top

Current affairs

John Dudley, Earl of Warwick is made Lord President of the Council and Master of the King's Household
Altars are replaced by communion tables in all London churches on the orders of the new Bishop Nicholas Ridley.
Treaty of Boulogne - English forces withdraw from Scotland and Boulogne is returned to the French in return for a substantial payment.

Art and science

The Italian artist Giorgio Vasari writes Le Vite dei più eccellenti pittori, scultori e architettori (Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors and Architects), the first work of Italian art history.

International

Election of Pope Julius III in Rome.

Tell us more back to top

Can you tell us more about this portrait? 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 this 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.

* What can you tell us? (Help)

There are occasions when we are unsure of the identity of a sitter or artist, their life dates, occupation or have not recorded their family relationships. Sometimes we have not recorded the date of a portrait. Do you have specialist knowledge or a particular interest about any aspect of the portrait or sitter or artist that you can share with us? We would welcome any information that adds to and enhances our information and understanding about a particular portrait, sitter or artist.

Citation (Help)

How do you know this? Please could you let us know your source of information.

* Permission to publish (Privacy information)

The National Portrait Gallery will NOT use your information to contact you or store for any other purpose than to investigate or display your contribution. By ticking permission to publish you are indicating your agreement for your contribution to be shown on this collection item page. Please note your email address will not be displayed on the page nor will it be used for any marketing material or promotion of any kind.

Please ensure your comments are relevant and appropriate. Your contributions must be polite and with no intention of causing trouble. All contributions are moderated.

Denied Granted

* Your name (Why?)

* Email (Why?)

Contributions are moderated. We'll need your email address so that we can follow up on the information provided and contact you to let you know when your contribution has been published.