The Gallery holds the most extensive collection of portraits in the world. Search over 215,000 works, 150,000 of which are illustrated from the 16th Century to the present day.

Advanced Collection search

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey

© National Portrait Gallery, London

 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Buy a print Make a donation
  • Buy a print
  • Use this image
  • ShareShare this

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey

after William Scrots
oil on panel, circa 1570-1580s, based on a work of 1546
18 7/8 in. x 11 7/8 in. (480 mm x 301 mm)
Purchased, 1973
Primary Collection
NPG 4952

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • William Scrots (active 1537-1553), Painter. Artist associated with 7 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This panel may have been cut down from a larger work and, when it was acquired by the Gallery in 1973, spliced down the middle. It shows Surrey with eyes that are quizzical and intelligent. The handling of the paint in this portrait suggests that the artist was directly copying another work, possibly a portrait by Guillim Scrots that is now lost.

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Smartify image discovery app
  • 100 Writers, p. 18
  • Pointon, Marcia, Hanging the head : portraiture and social formation in eighteenth-¿century England, 1993, p. 24 number 34
  • Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery: An Illustrated Guide, 2000, p. 36
  • Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 36 Read entry

    The Earl of Surrey was a scholar and a poet, translator of the Aeneid and author of verses in imitation of Petrarch. This panel, perhaps cut down from a larger work and, when it was acquired by the Gallery in 1973, spliced down the middle, shows him with eyes that are quizzical and intelligent.

  • Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 598

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1546back to top

Current affairs

The Treaty of Ardres ends England's war with France and Scotland. Francis I of France agrees to pay a large pension to King Henry VIII and his successors.
Henry VIII becomes seriously ill.

Art and science

The Dutch artist William Scrots paints Princess Edward (later King Edward VI) using an unusual and virtuoso technique of distorted perspective (anamorphosis).
King Henry VIII founds Trinity College, Cambridge.

International

The German Protestant reformer Martin Luther dies while attempting to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the mounting tension between German Protestant and Catholic factions. The Schmalkaldic League of Protestant princes prepares for war against the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.

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?close

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.

Citationclose

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

* Permission to publish (Privacy information)
Privacy Informationclose

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.

Your Emailclose

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.