You can contact us with the problem you are having and we will investigate.
Stripe Online Payments
Sellingantiques have now partnered with Stripe card processing to give you a seamless purchase experience of antiques on sellingantiques.
Millions of companies of all sizes use Stripe online to accept payments and is the worlds No.1 payment gateway.
So how does it work: Look for the button in the antique details page to instantly purchase antiques from dealers who have activated Stripe online payments.
You can now easily filter and show antiques that only have this option enabled.
Using this button notifies us immediately that you have purchased this item. Once you have made the payment we will instantly mark it as sold to ensure that no one else can buy it.
Discounts can also be made available.
We are always improving the purchase experience for both buyer and seller and more and more dealers are enabling this option each week.
Portrait Of Sir Henry Wotton In A Black Doublet & White Ruff C.1610-20; Circle Of Cornelius Johnson (1593-1661), Oil On Canvas Painting
Status:This item has been sold Sold by:Titan Fine Art
A feature of this exquisitely rendered oil on panel portrait is its remarkable 17th century carved auricular Sunderland frame – a splendid, and rare, work of art in itself.
The subject is the poet and ambassador, and contemporary of Shakespeare, Sir Henry Wotton, who was the most widely cultivated Englishman of his time during what is known as the great age of Elizabethan literature, from the defeat of the Armada to (almost) the outbreak of the Civil Wars. A ripe classical scholar, an elegant Latinist, trained in Greek, he was an admirable linguist in modern languages as well. He was the friend of most of the learned men of that epoch, both at home and on the Continent; the first English collector of Italian pictures, he brought from Italy, the refined taste in art and architecture, the varied culture of antiquity and the Renaissance. Famous in his own day as a '' wit and fine gentleman '', he deserves to be remembered as a noble example of the ''Italianate'' Englishmen - one w...ho, with all his foreign culture, never lost the sincerity and old-fashioned piety of a ''plain Kentish man''.
Born on 30 March 1568, at Boughton or Bocton Hall, in Kent to Thomas Wotton (1489-1551) and Eleanor Finch. At the time of his birth Bocton Hall had been the seat of the Wotton family for about 150 years, his father Thomas being fourth in descent from Nicholas Wotton, Lord Mayor of London in the reign of Henry V. The Wotton’s had prospered and were distinguised by a peculiar honesty, old-fashioned piety, and simplicity of nature. Though high in the public service, they habitually declined, rather than sought, court honours and preferment.
In 1584 Wotton, then aged sixteen, went from Winchester to New College, Oxford but by 1589 he left for abroad travelling on the continent. Returning to England in 1594, he was taken into the service of the Queen''s favourite, Robert, Earl of Essex. He again went to Italy where the Grand Duke of Tuscany employed him as a private envoy to James VI of Scotland, and later he was sent as his ambassador to many princes. He was the Provostship of Eton, which he held till his death in 1689.
Exquisitely detailed throughout the sitter is wearing a black doublet and white lace collar and cuffs. These elements are very carefully observed but the excellent treatment of the face is most notable - with the build-up and layering to mimic realistic nuances of skin tones, and the soft appearance by using the ‘sfumato’ technique. This is a very fine example.
This portrait passed by family descent to Anne Eliza Bray (1790-1883) who wrote over a dozen very popular historical novels, travel and history books. She married the artist Charles Alfred Stothard (son of Thomas Stothard) and later Rev. Edward Atkyns Bray, vicar of Tavistock. It is no doubt that she would have been enthralled to be the custodian of this portrait of Sir Henry Wotton, sharing his writing enthusiasm.
Cornelius Johnson (1593-1664) through merit and splendid achievement, can be placed within the first rank of England’s portrait painters of the generation before Van Dyke. Cornelius Johnson was a painter beautifully sensitive to individual character and his careful and faithful depictions of clothing afford a priceless resource to historians. He was sworn in as the King’s own painter in 1632.
Born into a Flemish/German immigrant family in 1593 in London, he is thought to have begun his independent practice in about 1619.
Even his earliest pictures display a level of continental sophistication not often seen in the works of English Jacobean artists. He painted elegant images of the King, the Queen, and the whole court, many leading lawyers and public servants, but also a regional clientele.
In 1632, the same year Van Dyck arrived in England, Johnson was appointed one of King Charles I’s painters but in 1643, just prior to the the Civil Wars, he left for Holland where he worked and remained until his death.
Much more info about this item at: www.titanfineart.com
In a market saturated with available paintings, Titan Fine Art offers a distinct advantage: we sift through thousands of works to provide a specially curated selection. Each piece is meticulously chosen based on technical merit, provenance, and decorative appeal, ensuring our clients view only the finest examples of British and European art.
With over 20 years of expertise and 1,000+ works placed with collectors and institutions, we are one of the most prolific specialists in 17th and 18th-century portraiture. We combine a scholarly approach with museum-level rigor to replace the uncertainty of the open market with absolute confidence.
Why Buy From Titan Fine Art?
• Expertly Curated Selection
We act as your expert eye, selecting only high-quality works that offer genuine historical and artistic value.
• Museum-Level Research
Each portrait is supported by extensive academic research, often exceeding 40 hours, to establish attribution, sitter identity, and historical context.
• Professional Conservation
All paintings are carefully cleaned and stabilised by professional conservators, and are presented ready to hang.
• Transparent Pricing
No buyer’s premium or hidden fees—unlike auction houses, where additional costs can add 25–35%.
• Export Pricing Advantage
Reduced pricing is available for works exported outside the UK.
• Specialist Global Shipping
We manage the entire process, including custom crating, export documentation, and fully tracked delivery worldwide.
• Buy with Confidence
A 7-day return policy and the option to pay in GBP, USD, or EUR for convenience and transparency.
• Original Period Frames
Many works retain their original carved and gilded frames, which are works of art in their own right and enhance both historical authenticity and decorative impact.
• Personal Advisory Service
We work directly with collectors and interior designers, offering guidance on selection, scale, and placement—including bespoke room mock-ups on request.
Subscribe to our monthly 'new item alert' to be the first to hear about new works
Antique ID Number (AIDN): SA1137421
Dateline of this antique is 17th Century
Height is 95cm (37.4inches)Width is 82cm (32.3inches)Depth is 10cm (3.9inches)
Antique SA1137421 shown on this page was made in the 17th Century. For historical context, the timeline below highlights the period when it was created:
←C17th
ANTIQUE SA1137421
CONTACT DETAILS OF SELLER:
Titan Fine Art
Specialist in 17th & 18thC portraits. Highly curated selection, museum-level research & pro conservation. Exceptional art, expertly vetted.
London
United Kingdom
Tel: 07875 412 111
STATUS
THIS ITEM HAS BEEN SOLD
Thank you.
Your comment has been sent to Sellingantiques.
Thank you.
Your rating and comment have been sent to Sellingantiques.
Thank you.
Your score has been recieved.
Thanks. But what can we do better?
SEND COMMENT
If you would like to be contacted to discuss your feedback then please leave a phone number or email address in your message.
Thanks for your great feedback!
We love it when our wonderful visitors are happy with us!
SEND COMMENT
Live daily database information for 18 July 2026
Antiques approved in last 24 hours
0
Antiques awaiting approval
7
Antiques rejected in last 24 hours
0
Unique visitors today
2990
Total antique impressions today
419324
Total antiques for sale
67099
Total value of antiques for sale
£139305490
Antiques uploaded so far in July 2026
2442
Unique visitors to Sellingantiques so far in July 2026
252764
Unique visitors to Sellingantiques so far in 2026
3814304
Item saved
The Portrait of Sir Henry Wotton in a Black Doublet & White Ruff c.1610-20; Circle of Cornelius Johnson (1593-1661), Oil on canvas painting has been added to your saved items.
Sending email ...
... please wait
Sending Email...
... please wait
Problem with this page?
You can contact us with the problem you are having and we will investigate.
Sending an email to: Titan Fine Art
Item: #SA1137421 Portrait of Sir Henry Wotton in a Black...
Thank you.
Your comment has been sent to Sellingantiques.