Miniatures from the Bearsted Collection
An intimate exhibition of eight Elizabethan and Jacobean portrait miniatures
19 November—19 December 2025
This winter, the gallery will present Miniatures from the Bearsted Collection, an intimate exhibition of eight exceptional Elizabethan and Jacobean portrait miniatures. This collection comprises some of the finest and most precious examples by the master miniaturists Nicholas Hilliard and Isaac Oliver that our gallery has handled. Acquired from the descendants of Walter Samuel, 2nd Viscount Bearsted, one of the most distinguished collectors of the early twentieth century in Britain, the collection offers a glimpse into the intricacies of the art of limning and the evolution of miniature painting in England.
The exhibition is accompanied by a comprehensive catalogue produced in collaboration with Dr Elizabeth Goldring, featuring new scholarship and detailed entries on each miniature. Scroll down to pre-order your copy.
Isaac Oliver (c.1565-1617), A young lady wearing masculine-style dress, c.1600-15
