Creator

Marcus Geeraerts the younger (?)

Creation-date

1599

Technique

Painting

Material

Oil on wood

Inventory number

-

Subject-1

Henry Neville

Object-Current-Location

Essex, Audley End House, Private collection of Lord Braybrooke

Digital resource author

GrECI Project

Digital-resource-rights holder

University of Oslo (for GrECI project)

Image-number

042_Id_17

License

CC BY

Description

The portrait shows that in addition to Greek quotations, newly coined phrases were also used. In the upper left corner is an astronomical drawing accompanied by a Greek inscription which appears to read: "Absolutely without correction". This phrase serves to explain the drawing, but it also suggests Neville's moral integrity, echoing his family's Latin motto, 'Ne vile velis'. The inclusion of Greek reinforces the individual qualities of the subject, while perhaps also alluding to his mastery of several languages, fitting for an ambassador.