17th century English school - Portrait of Philip Howard, 13t...

Hammer

£3,700

17th century English school - Portrait of Philip Howard, 13th Earl of Arundel and Surrey (1557-1595) - the sitter portrayed wearing ruff and armour, oil on oak panel, 29.5 by 29.5cm. Only son of Thomas, Duke of Norfolk and Lady Mary Fitzalan. Philip was Canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1970, as one of the 'Forty Martyrs of England and Wales'. He was named after his godfather, Philip II of Spain. He married Anne Dacre at the age of 14 and graduated from Cambridge in 1574. He led a frivolous life at Cambridge and at Court, where he was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I. His father Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, was arrested in 1569 for intriguing against the Queen. He was attainted and executed in 1572. Philip succeeded to his mother's inheritance, becoming Earl of Arundel in 1580. In 1581, Philip experienced a conversion and renounced his previous frivolous life. Subsequently, he tried to leave England without Royal permission and was arrested and committed to the Tower of London. Charges of treason were never proven but he spent 10 years in the Tower. He refused clemency from the Queen that required he attend a Protestant service. He died in the Tower in October 1595, never having been allowed to see his wife or son. He was acclaimed a Catholic Martyr at his death. A portrait 'Lord Arundel, aged 18' by George Gower bears a close resemblance to this portrait, although the subject here is clearly older than 18. Provenance: the vendors mother has a direct connection to the Arundell family.