Robert Carey, 1st Earl of Monmouth (1560-1639)
British (English) School
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1591
Materials
Oil on panel
Measurements
921 x 737 mm (36 1/4 x 29 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Montacute House, Somerset
NT 597953
Summary
Oil painting on panel, Robert Carey, 1st Earl of Monmouth (1560-1639), British (English) School, circa 1591, inscribed (incorrectly) 'John Arunndel 1569'. Robert Carey was the seventh and youngest son of Henry Carey, 1st Lord Hunsdon (?1524-1596) who was Chamberlain of the Household and confidant to Queen Elizabeth I, and Anne Morgan of Arkestone, Herefordshire. A three-quarter-length portrait of a young man, turned slightly to left, gazing at spectator right hand on his hip holding his black cap with a jewel and pendant pearl, left hand holding the hilt of his sword. Dark short hair, slight moustache, pearl-earring in left ear, dressed in orange silver-braided doublet with silver buttons small cream shirt collar under a grey gauze collar, black, very short, trunk-hose heavily embroidered with pearls, grey hose; hanging from his left shoulder is a magnificent black cloak with seven large silver buttons and heavily embroidered with pearls; a massive sash formed of multiple rope of pearls hangs from his left shoulder; the sea and a ship top left are seen through a window opening. In black frame with gilt edging.
Provenance
With Leggatt Bros., London 1936; bought and bequeathed by Sir Percy Malcolm Stewart (1871-1951) to the National Trust and transferred to Montacute House, 1960 after the death of Lady Stewart
Credit line
Montacute House, The Malcolm Stewart Bequest (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
Recto: John Arundel 1569 [removed - when?]
Makers and roles
British (English) School, artist
References
Montacute House, Somerset, 1976 [The National Trust; Dudley Dodd] 1976, "THE DINING ROOM Paintings and Tapestry South Wall (from left to right) Portrait of Thomas Cavendish (1560-92). A buccaneer and the second Englishman to circumnavigate the world (1586-88)." Montacute House, Somerset, 1991 [The National Trust; Malcolm Rogers] 1991, p.53. THE DINING ROOM PAINTINGS Thomas Cavendish (1560-92) Buccaneer and the second Englishman to circumnavigate the world (1586-8). He wears a pearl-encrusted cloan and ropes of pearls as a sash. (Stewart bequest.) English School, late sixteenth century." Jane Ashleford, The Art of Dress. Clothes and Society 1500-1914, The National Trust, 1996, p.41, illus p.40. Caption to illustration: "28. Robert Carey, later 1st Earl of Monmouth, in an outfit that is a striking illustration of the last satage of the peascod-bodied doublet, now so exaggerated that it turns in on itself, while the trunk hose has been reduced to a pearl-studded roll. Like Releigh (27), Carey obviously loved pearls and has, unusually, chosen to wear ropes of them across his body like a sash, and thee is beautiful pearl embroidery on his cloak. (English School, c.1591, Montacute.) Montacute House, Somerset, 1997 [The National Trust; Malcolm Rogers] 1991, revised 1997 , p.53. THE DINING ROOM PAINTINGS Thomas Cavendish (1560-92) Buccaneer and the second Englishman to circumnavigate the world (1586-8). He wears a pearl-encrusted cloan and ropes of pearls as a sash. (Stewart bequest.) English School, late sixteenth century." Montacute House, Somerset, 2004-2006 [The National Trust; Malcolm Rogers] 2000, revised 2004, reprinted 2005, 2006, p.41. THE DINING ROOM PAINTINGS Thomas Cavendish (1560-92) Buccaneer and the second Englishman to circumnavigate the world (1586-8). He wears a pearl-encrusted cloan and ropes of pearls as a sash. (Stewart bequest.) English School, late sixteenth century."