An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
Portrait of Robert Devereux, Second Earl of Essex1599
Artist: Studio of Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger
Flemish, 1561/62 - 1636
Portrait of a man. Portrait of Robert Devereux, Second Earl of Essex. (1970 catalogue states 'oil on panel, mounted on aluminum')
19 1/2 x 15 1/2 in. (49.53 x 39.37 cm) (panel)
Oil on panel
Painting
England
16th century
The John Washburn Fund
In the heart of England, during the vibrant reign of Queen Elizabeth I, there lived a nobleman whose life danced between the fervent whispers of ambition and the sharp edges of downfall. The Earl of Essex, a man as charming as he was politically astute, basked in the warm glow of the Queen's favor, his aspirations soaring high like the falcons that graced the skies of his lands.
Yet, the winds of fortune are ever fickle. In the late 1590s, Essex donned the armor of a general, his heart set on conquest in Ireland during the Nine Years’ War. But the campaigns did not unfold as he had envisioned. A brooding cloud of disappointment gathered, and soon he found himself confined to his opulent estate, a gilded cage of sorts, under house arrest—a precious jewel now tarnished by failure. The echoes of battles lost rang loudly in his ears.
But Essex was not one to wallow in defeat. In 1601, he hatched a plan, a desperate bid for power—one that would see him lead a coup d'état against the very government he had once served. Alas, ambition can be a double-edged sword, and this endeavor unraveled like fragile silk, ultimately leading to his execution for treason.
During these tumultuous times, he sought solace in the brush strokes of Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, a celebrated artist of the Tudor court. Their bond was painted in the hues of admiration, as Gheeraerts captured not just Essex's likeness, but the very essence of his spirit. Together, they created portraits that spoke of glory, of power, and of a man who lived fiercely, even as shadows crept ever closer.
This particular piece we reflect upon is a studio variant of that renowned portrait, now a cherished treasure at Woburn Abbey. Each stroke tells a story of triumphs and trials, where the Earl, cloaked in the rich garments of royalty, gazes outward—an enigmatic expression upon his face, a silent testament to the tumultuous heart that beat within, forever caught between the realms of ambition and consequence.
In reverence to this storied past, we are reminded that the tales of ambition echo through the ages, whispering to us still, in the gentle rustle of leaves, in the quiet contemplation of art, in the legacy of those daring enough to dream.
About the artist
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