Thomas Howard, 14th Earl of Arundel, 4th Earl of Surrey and 1st Earl of Norfolk (1585-1646), patron of art, collector and politician, with his grandson, Thomas Howard, 5th Duke of Norfolk (1627-1677)

Oil on canvas. Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel, is depicted fully clad in armour, with a red sash, white collar and a staff. He was not a military man and therefore the suit of armour is intended as an indication of his nobility and rank. Arundel’s grandson, Thomas, later Duke of Norfolk, gazes at the staff and Arundel’s arm rests protectively across the boy’s shoulders. The painting demonstrates both the authority and power of Arundel, and the trust and tenderness in his relationship with his grandson. This portrait is an early copy of Anthony van Dyck’s (1635-36; Arundel Castle, the Howard family seat). It was probably made by Henry Stone (1616-1653), a portrait painter and copyist who often copied works by van Dyck. The work was regarded by engraver and scholar George Vertue as one of the best of van Dyck’s English portraits: ‘the Armour painted with great force & skill’. Shortly after the portrait was completed, Arundel wrote to the natural philosopher Sir William Petty in Rome stating that he intended to send the portrait to Rome and commission a local sculptor to create a version in marble relief. However, no marble version is known to exist.

Collection

Government Art Collection

Inventory Number

2829998

Title

Thomas Howard, 14th Earl of Arundel, 4th Earl of Surrey and 1st Earl of Norfolk (1585-1646), patron of art, collector and politician, with his grandson, Thomas Howard, 5th Duke of Norfolk (1627-1677)

Object Type

StillImage

Measurements

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