Nicholas Hilliard

Nicholas Hilliard (1547 – 1619) was a celebrated English goldsmith and painter best known for his miniature portraits in the Tudor and Stuart royal courts. He was skilful in rendering delicate fabrics, fine jewellery, and expressive faces in watercolour on vellum (calfskin), and wrote an important treatise on painting called The Art of Limning (about 1600).
The V&A holds the largest collection of Hilliard's works, spanning his career and offering a fascinating glimpse into his artistic evolution and the period's culture, political intrigues, and fashions. These include stately depictions of Queen Elizabeth I and her courtiers, intimate portrayals of his wife, Alice Brandon and a charming portrayal of a 10-year-old girl.  

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Nicholas Hilliard – An introduction

Find out more about the most celebrated English miniaturist of the Elizabethan era

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    How was it made? Portrait miniatures

    See how these tiny intricate paintings were made

Collection highlights

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  1. miniature
    Queen Elizabeth I, portrait miniature, by Nicholas Hilliard, about 1595 – 1600, England
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  2. portrait miniature
    Portrait of a woman, previously thought to be Mrs Holland, by Nicholas Hilliard, 1593, England
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  3. miniature
    Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, portrait miniature, by Nicholas Hilliard, about 1571 – 74, London, England
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  4. portrait miniature
    Alice Brandon, Mrs. Hilliard, portrait miniature, by Nicholas Hilliard, 1578, France
  5. design
    Design for the Great Seal depicting Elizabeth I, by Nicholas Hilliard, about 1585, London, England
  6. portrait miniature
    Self-portrait, aged 30, portrait miniature, by Nicholas Hilliard, 1577, France
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  7. portrait miniature
    Unknown man clasping a hand from a cloud, portrait miniature, by Nicholas Hilliard, 1588, England
  8. portrait miniature
    Portrait of an unknown girl, aged 10, portrait miniature, by Nicholas Hilliard, 1609, England
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  9. portrait miniature
    Young Man among Roses, portrait miniature, by Hilliard, Nicholas, about 1587, England
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  10. portrait miniature
    An Unknown Man, portrait miniature, by Hilliard, Nicholas, about 1600, England
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
islamic tile
person working with clay with their hands
two women sat on a long green chair looking away from camera
woman working with a pen in hand on a black mannequin head

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Anne of Cleves, portrait miniature in ivory box, by Hans Holbein, 1539. Museum no. P.153-1910. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Collections

Portrait miniatures

Header image:
Unknown man, portrait miniature, by Nicholas Hilliard, about 1600, England. Museum no. P.5-1917. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London