Francis Hervey (1534-1601/2), aged 30
Anglo-Flemish School
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1564 (inscribed)
Materials
Oil on oak panel
Measurements
673 x 464 mm (26 ½ x 18 ¼ in)
Order this imageCollection
Ickworth, Suffolk
NT 851861
Summary
Oil painting on oak panel, Francis Hervey (1534-1601/2), British (English) School, inscribed: top left: 1564; upper right, in irregular capitals: HVMILEM MENTEM / CREA IN.ME.DEVS / ÆTs. SVÆ.30; coat of arms, upper left centre: Hervey quartering Niernuyt (see Farrer 108; NT 851798: the portrait inscribed as Sir Nicholas Hervey), with crest of: ‘an ounce passant sable besanté, ducally collared and chain reflexed over the back, or, holding in the dexter paw a trefoil slipped vert’; with the motto NE OBLYRAY IAMAYS. A three-quarter- length portrait of a man, fresh complexion, blue eyes, light brown hair and beard. In Tudor dress - dark jacket, lace ruffles at neck and wrists, cap with feather. Wearing three rings on right hand and holding upright a pike or spear (partizan)decorated with tassels. Hervey coat of arms, quartering Niernuy., in top left-hand corner with motto - 'Ne oblyra jamays'. Silver chain round neck. Red, gold and black striped breeches. Very dark background, inscribed top right 'Humilem mentem crea in me Deus aets suae 30'. The earliest authentic family portrait at Ickworth. He was a younger son of John Hervey of Ickworth (1490-1556), and is shown at the age of 30 wearing his chain of office as a Gentleman Pensioner to Queen Elizabeth.
Provenance
Since the sitter had no issue by either marriage, this portrait probably passed to his nephew John Hervey (1562-1630), and thence by descent to John, 1st Earl of Bristol (1665-1751), and so to Frederick William, 1st Marquess (1769-1859), in whose time it is first recorded, at Ickworth and thence by descent to Frederick William, 4th Marquess (1863-1951), on whose death valued for probate; after which, accepted in lieu of tax by HM Treasury, and transferred to the National Trust in 1956
Credit line
Ickworth, The Bristol Collection (acquired through the National Land Fund and transferred to The National Trust in 1956)
Makers and roles
Anglo-Flemish School, publisher British (English) School, publisher previously catalogued as attributed to Hans Eworth (Antwerp c.1525 – ?London after 1578), publisher
References
Farrer 1908 Edmund Farrer, Portraits in Suffolk Houses (West), 1908, no. 60 Cust 1913 Lionel Cust, 'The Painter HE', Walpole Society, II, 1913, pp.1-44