A stunning 1580s portrait by Nicholas Hilliard, Queen Elizabeth I’s official painter, has been unearthed from an Irish private collection after centuries of obscurity. Experts believe the exquisite 58mm miniature depicts Elizabeth, Lady Leighton, a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth I—and possibly the object of Sir Walter Raleigh’s unrequited affection.
Lady Leighton, known for her striking beauty, caught Raleigh’s eye, inspiring poetry such as A Poem put into my Lady Laitons Pocket. Now, historians are speculating whether this intricate miniature, priced at £120,000, was a secret gift to Raleigh, reciprocating his ardent verses.
Hilliard’s craftsmanship shines in the painting’s detailed depiction of courtly fashion: a gold-adorned dress, a delicate feathered hairpiece, and the iconic “cartwheel” ruff. Scholars Elizabeth Goldring and Emma Rutherford describe the piece as one of Hilliard’s most intricate works, its flirtatious aura suggesting a collaboration between artist and muse.
Set to debut at London Art Week, this discovery not only enriches Hilliard’s legacy but also revives a tale of unspoken romance and Elizabethan intrigue.
