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MICHIEL JANSZ VAN MIEREVELD (DELFT 1567-1641)

A Bearded Old Man with a Shell

c.1606

RCIN 403956

The artist Peter Lely acquired this painting with seven others from Charles I's collection at the Commonwealth Sales. He promptly returned all the pictures in May 1660, presumably to win favour with the newly restored king. By 1666 this painting was described as a self-portrait of Miereveld and was hung alongside 23 other portraits of artists at Whitehall. The shell, from an Indian volute sea snail, was a precious and highly collectable object.

Collection of Henry, Prince of Wales, inherited by Charles I, sold to Peter Lely on 2 April 1650, returned to the Crown at the Restoration.

Cat. 126

    The income from your ticket contributes directly to The Royal Collection Trust, a registered charity. The aims of The Royal Collection Trust are the care and conservation of the Royal Collection, and the promotion of access and enjoyment through exhibitions, publications, loans and educational activities.