A 16th-century portrait of Thomas Howard, the 4th Duke of Norfolk, by Hans Eworth sold for £3.2 million ($4.2 million) at Sotheby’s Old Masters sale in London on December 4, setting a record as the most expensive Elizabethan portrait ever sold. The painting was purchased by the art advisory Clore Wyndham on behalf of the Duke of Norfolk and the trustees of Arundel Castle, where it will be displayed. The work, painted in 1562, depicts Norfolk at the height of his political power, dressed in opulent Tudor fashion, and is one of only two known portraits of him.
The record price underscores the enduring market demand for rare, high-quality Tudor portraiture and highlights the historical significance of Hans Eworth, who succeeded Hans Holbein as the leading court painter in England. The sale also contributed to a strong Sotheby’s Old Masters evening auction, which totaled £30.7 million, among the highest in five years. The painting’s return to Arundel Castle fills a gap in the family collection and reconnects the work with its original context, including a companion portrait of Norfolk’s second wife.