Ruff Collection

Mary, Queen of Scots in a red costume
Mary, Queen of Scotland, in a striking red costume

Elizabeth I, Queen of England and Ireland, c1588. Artist: George Gower
Elizabeth I, Queen of England and Ireland, c1588. Version of the Armada portrait attributed to George Gower. The last Tudor monarch, Elizabeth I (1533-1603) ruled from 1558 until 1603

A Selection of Fish
An assortment of fish: 1. sharp-nosed eel, 2. blunt-nosed eel, 3. burbot, 4. lamprey, 5. lampern, 6. chub, 7. perch, 8. roach, 9. bream, 10. rudd, 11. Prussian carp, 12. Crucian carp, 13. tench, 14

William Tyndale / Whittock
WILLIAM TYNDALE English translator of Bible; burned at the stake for heresy in 1536

Queen Elizabeth I - Gingers Rule
Queen Elizabeth I, Gingers Rule with ginger or red hair wearing an Elizabethan ruff and costume. Graphic design for a mug, T-Shirt, print or poster

The Laughing Cavalier, 1624, (1943). Creator: Frans Hals
The Laughing Cavalier, 1624, (1943). Painting in the Wallace Collection, London. From " The Studio", Volume 125. [The Offices of the Studio, London & New York, 1943]

Queen Elizabeth, The Ermine Portrait, 1585, (1896). Artist: Nicholas Hilliard
Queen Elizabeth, The Ermine Portrait, 1585, (1896). Portrait of Elizabeth I (1533-1603) with an ermine, used to make fur garments for royalty

ELIZABETH TALBOT (c1527-1608). Known as Bess of Hardwick. Countess of Shrewsbury. Oil on canvas, 17th century, by an unknown artist after a portrait of c1590

The Laughing Cavalier, 1624, (c1915). Artist: Frans Hals
The Laughing Cavalier, 1624, (c1915). The painting is part of the Wallace Collection, London. From International Art: Past and Present by Alfred Yockney. [Virtue & Company, London, c1915]

The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp, 1632. Artist: Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn
The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp, 1632. Rembrandt van Rhijn (1606-1669). Found in the collection of the The Mauritshuis, The Hague

Portrait of a Lady called Countess of Nottingham (c. 1547-1603)
Artist: Critz, John de the elder (attributed to) - Title: Portrait of a Lady called Countess of Nottingham (c.1547-1603) () - Date: 1600-1605 - Original Medium and Size: Oil on Wood 113.6 x 85.7

John Milton Vertue
JOHN MILTON English poet and puritan at the age of 21, with the motto: " Poets are born, not made"

Francis Drake / Miniature
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE English admiral and circumnavigator of the world

SIR FRANCIS DRAKE (1540?-1596). English admiral. Oil on panel, c1580, by an unknown artist

Elizabeth I (1533-1603) Queen of England and Ireland from 1558, last Tudor monarch. Version of the Armarda portrait attributed to George Gower c1588

Choirboy singing solo in a church, Horley, Surrey
A choirboy singing solo in front of a modern stained glass window at Salfords Church, Horley, Surrey. He is holding a book entitled English Praise

Lady Wearing a Spencer
One woman wears a fur-lined spencer the other a pelisse. Fashions of around 1805 according to a later source

Hugo De Groot / Larmessin
HUGO DE GROOT alias HUGO GROTIUS Dutch scholar, humanist and politician

Coquelin(A) / Cyrano 1900
CONSTANT COQUELIN Aine (elder) French actor in the role of Cyrano de Bergerac

Cervantes / Selma
MIGUEL DE CERVANTES Spanish novelist

Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary, Queen of Scotland, in a black and white costume

Nude in the style of Jean Agelou (French). Date: circa 1920

Cornelia Bradley Martin, as Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, Bradley-Martin Ball
3077517 Cornelia Bradley Martin, as Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, Bradley-Martin Ball, 1897 (b/w photo) by American Photographer; Collection of the New-York Historical Society

Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke, c1600, (1942). Creator: Paulus van Somer
Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke, c1600, (1942). Portrait of author, playwright and poet Mary Sidney Herbert (1561-1621)

Leaving the Masqued Ball. Artist: Garcia y Ramos, Jose (1852-1912)
Leaving the Masqued Ball. Found in the collection of Museo Carmen Thyssen, Malaga

Portrait of Sir Edwin Sandys, with turned-down ruff, c1560-1570, (1937). Creator: Unknown
Portrait of Sir Edwin Sandys, showing a turned-down ruff, the predecessor of the Vandyke collar. Reign of James I, c1560-1570, (1937). Edwin Sandys (1519-1588) English Archbishop

Pierrot clown
Man in fancy dress wearing a pierrot clown outfit with white face soft pointed hat, green neck ruff and pom-poms to the feet

Italian fashion in the 1580s
Clothing of Italian ladies from Venice, Milan, and Florence, 1580s. Antique hand-colored woodcut

Johannes Kepler
JOHANNES KEPLER German astronomer

Costume of Tudor / Elizabethan nobleman, 1600
Costume of a Tudor/Elizabethan nobleman, 1600. 1600

Queen Elizabeth I (1538-1603) in Old Age, c. 1610 (oil on panel)
CRS225667 Queen Elizabeth I (1538-1603) in Old Age, c.1610 (oil on panel) by English School, (17th century); Corsham Court, Wiltshire; English, out of copyright

Portrait of a Woman, 1630. Creator: Nicolaes Eliasz Pickenoy
Portrait of a Woman, 1630

Thomas Hobson
THOMAS HOBSON English Liveryman at Cambridge. He was the sourse of the expression Hobsons Choice. Date: 1544 - 1630

Young Girl Reading, c. 1770 (oil on canvas)
XJL61308 Young Girl Reading, c.1770 (oil on canvas) by Fragonard, Jean-Honore (1732-1806); 81.1x64.8 cm; National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, USA; French, out of copyright

PEDRO de VALDIVIA (c1500-1553). Spanish conqueror of Chile. American banknote engraving, 19th century

Theatre National de l Opera, Grand bal de la Mi-Careme, 1921. Private Collection

Charles Howard, First Earl of Nottingham, (early-mid 19th century). Creator: H Robinson
Charles Howard, First Earl of Nottingham, (early-mid 19th century). Portrait of English statesman and admiral Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham (1536-1624)

Pathfinders - Sir Francis Bacon, after 1731, (1922). Creator: Unknown
Pathfinders - Sir Francis Bacon, after 1731, (1922). Portrait of English philosopher, scientist and statesman Francis Bacon, Viscount St Albans. Bacon (1561-1626) became Lord Chancellor in 1618

William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, 16th century (c1905). Cecil (1520-1598) was an English politician and the chief advisor of Queen Elizabeth I

Clown heads on nine Victorian scraps. Date: circa 1890s

EL GRECO: PORTRAIT. Jorge Manuel Theotocopuli, El Grecos illegitimate son. Oil on canvas, 1605

Elizabeth I (1533-1603) Queen of England and Ireland from 1558, last Tudor monarch. The Darnley portrait c1588, artist unknown

CAVENDISH, DRAKE & HAWKINS. English admirals and navigators. Left to right: Thomas Cavendish (1560-1592), Sir Francis Drake (c1540-1596), and Sir John Hawkins (1532-1595)

18th French Court Dress
Man: trunk hose, doublet, ruff & boots that reach over the knees. Woman: gown with a square neckline & tucker, voluminous sleeves & reverse cuffs & a plumed hat

Mary, Queen of Scotland
Mary, Queen of Scots

John Milton at 21
JOHN MILTON English poet and puritan at the age of 21

Riding Habits 1834
Riding habits. Woman: imbecile sleeves, embroidered canezou, cravat & top hat. Boy: pantaloons, waistcoat with a roll collar, short jacket with gigot sleeves, ruff

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"Ruff: A Glimpse into the Royal Era" Step back in time and immerse yourself in the captivating world of Queen Elizabeth I, as depicted by renowned artist George Gower. In his stunning portrait from 1588, we witness the regal elegance of Elizabeth I, Queen of England and Ireland. Her commanding presence is enhanced by her elaborate ruff collar, a symbol of power and prestige. As we explore further, our attention turns to a selection of fish – an intriguing hint at the culinary delights enjoyed during this era. The richness and variety on display mirror the opulence that surrounded the royal court. Moving on to another iconic figure, Mary, Queen of Scots graces us with her presence in a vibrant red costume. This portrayal captures her fiery spirit and unwavering determination amidst turbulent times. Nicholas Hilliard's masterpiece "Queen Elizabeth: The Ermine Portrait" transports us to 1585 when this enchanting painting was created. The delicate details showcase not only Elizabeth's beauty but also her affinity for fashion trends like ruffs adorned with pearls. William Tyndale/Whittock takes center stage next – an influential figure who played a pivotal role in translating the Bible into English during Elizabethan times. His contribution revolutionized religious practices while leaving an indelible mark on history. "Gingers Rule, " proclaims one portrait featuring none other than Queen Elizabeth I herself. Celebrating her distinctive red hair color, it serves as a reminder that uniqueness should be embraced and cherished. Frans Hals' masterpieces "The Laughing Cavalier" captivate us with their enigmatic charm across different eras - 1624 (1943) & (c1915). These paintings immortalize individuals whose laughter echoes through time, reminding us to find joy even amidst life's challenges. Elizabeth Talbot or Bess of Hardwick emerges as yet another remarkable personality from this period - a countess known for her formidable character and influential role in society.