Nicholas Hilliard (c. 1547?January 7, 1619) was an English goldsmith and limner best known for his portrait miniatures of members of the courts of Elizabeth I and James I of England. He mostly painted small oval miniatures, but also some larger cabinet miniatures, up to about ten inches tall, and at least the two famous half-length panel portraits of Elizabeth. He enjoyed continuing success as an artist, and continuing financial troubles, for forty-five years, and his paintings still exemplify the visual image of Elizabethan England, very different from that of most of Europe in the late sixteenth century. Technically he was very conservative by European standards, but his paintings are superbly executed and have a freshness and charm that has ensured his continuing reputation as "the central artistic figure of the Elizabethan age, the only English painter whose work reflects, in its delicate microcosm, the world of Shakespeare's earlier plays."

He was the son of Richard Hilliard (1519?1594) of Exeter, Devon, England, a staunchly Protestant goldsmith who was high sheriff of the city and county in 1560, and Laurence, daughter of John Wall, a London goldsmith.

Hilliard emerged from his apprenticeship at a time when a new royal portrait painter was "desperately needed." Two panel portraits long attributed to him, the "Phoenix" and "Pelican" portraits, are dated c. 1572-76. Hilliard was appointed limner (miniaturist) and goldsmith to Elizabeth I at an unknown date; his first known miniature of the Queen is dated 1572, and already in 1573 he was granted the reversion of a lease by the Queen for his "good, true and loyal service." In 1571 he had made "a booke of portraitures" for the Earl of Leicester, the Queen's favourite, which is likely to be how he became known to the Court; several of his children were named after Leicester and his circle.

Self portrait, 1547

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Unknown man of 24, 1572, 2 3/8 x 1 7/8 inches, On loand from the Victoria &Albert Museum.

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Miniature of d'Alen?on, 1577

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Large miniature of George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland by Hilliard, c. 1590, after his appointment as the Queen's Champion, in tilting attire (which survives) with the Queen's glove as her favour pinned to his hat. 25.2 x 17.5 cm.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Art%20Museum/Nicholas_Hilliard_largeminiature.jpg

James I, 1603-9, On loan from V&A Museum

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Hilliard's wife Alice, an example of the influence from French art in his work. 1578

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Elizabeth I, the "Phoenix" portrait, c. 1575

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Art%20Museum/Elizabeth1_PhoenixHilliard.jpg

Sir Walter Raleigh, 1585

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Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke c. 1590

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Design for the obverse of a Great Seal for Ireland (never made) c. 1584. Hilliard drawings are rare.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Art%20Museum/Elizabeth_Great_Seal_IrelandHilliar.jpg

Elizabeth I in 1572

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Man in Flames

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((All information taken from Wikipedia, all images are public domain and expired copyrights))