William Segar
, British, fl. by 1589, d.1633
Title
Portrait of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (1566-1601)Date1590
MediumOil on panel
Dimensions
112 x 86 cm
Credit LinePurchased, 1886
Object numberNGI.283
ProvenanceCollection of Lord Stafford, Costessy Hall, Norwich; Christie's, 30 May 1885, lot 380; purchased, H. Graves & co., London, 1886Exhibition HistoryWinter Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1956-1957
The Age of Shakespeare, Whitworth Art Gallery, University of Manchester, Manchester, May 1964
This Popular Traitor: the Execution of the Earl of Essex, The Tower of London, London, 10 October 2001- 25 February 2002
Glamour and Governance, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, 29 May - 3 October 2021
Label Text
Essex is the most-depicted Elizabethan after the monarch herself. Her champion and lover, there was a dramatic fall from grace in 1590. Without even asking her, he married the young widow of hero, Sir Phillip Sydney – partly to advance his political career – so he was banished from court. A month later, he re-appeared, in this outfit, on a black chariot, at the Ascension day celebration of the Queen. He wears black armour, as if in mourning, with surcoat of seed pearls and holds his wand of office. The Queen forgave him, though the mishandling of governing Ireland led to his execution at 35.
he mishandling of governing Ireland led to his execution at 35.