A Member of the Tichborne Family, aged 38
circle of Hans Eworth (Antwerp c.1525 – ?London after 1578)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1559
Materials
Oil on panel
Measurements
900 x 700 mm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Petworth House and Park, West Sussex
NT 486266
Caption
The Tichborne family was an important one in Hampshire before the Norman Conquest. The name is derived from the river Itchen, at the head of which the family owned estates. Initially the family were called de Itchenborne, but the name has since corrupted into Tichborne. The family motto is inscribed on the frame (‘Fight for your Country’), along with a Latin translation of a Greek epigram by Sir Thomas More (I have found a harbour, hope and fortune fare ye well, I have nothing more to do with you, now beguile others). It has been suggested that the sitter might be Chideok Tichborne, who on hearing of the death of Elizabeth I, sped to Winchester and proclaimed James VI of Scotland as King of England.
Summary
Oil painting on panel, A Member of the Tichborne Family, aged 38, circle of Hans Eworth (Antwerp c.1525 – ?London after 1578), 1559. A three-quarter-length portrait of a man, standing, nearly full face, and wearing a black doublet and surcoat trimmed with ermine and an ermine collar together with a black brimmed hat with a knotted silver band and a badge. He has a forked red beard and a large gold chain over his breast with a thin silver chain round his waist with large knops, suspending his sword. His left hand, with two signet rings, is on the hilt. His right hand rests on a horn-shaped staff top. The background is at right, green chequered, and at left an inscribed pilaster.
Provenance
Recorded at Petworth in 1799; thence by descent, until the death in 1952 of the 3rd Lord Leconfield, who had given Petworth to the National Trust in 1947, and whose nephew and heir, John Wyndham, 6th Lord Leconfield and 1st Lord Egremont (1920-72) arranged for the acceptance of the major portion of the collections at Petworth in lieu of death duties (the first ever such arrangement) in 1956 by H.M.Treasury.
Credit line
Petworth House, The Egremont Collection (acquired in lieu of tax by HM Treasury in 1956 and subsequently transferred to the National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
Ano Dmi.1559 AE Svae 38 (on pilaster) (inscription reproduced exactly from Collins Baker)
Makers and roles
circle of Hans Eworth (Antwerp c.1525 – ?London after 1578), artist previously catalogued as attributed to Hans Eworth (Antwerp c.1525 – ?London after 1578), artist