Brief Biography-Nicholas Hilliard was born in Exeter, England. He was the son of a prominent goldsmith appointed Sheriff of Exeter. Hilliard moved to Germany in 1553 to avoid persecution by Mary Tudor’s regime. He learned much of Northern European art before returning to England in 1558. Hilliard served a seven-year apprenticeship in London with the goldsmith Robert Brandon, Chamberlain of the City of London, and court goldsmith. He soon became a court painter; however, he needed to be adequately rewarded and always had financial difficulties.
He did, however, have some loyal patrons who supported him, and he married the daughter of Robert Brandon in 1576. They travelled to France, where he painted royalty but received little commission and returned to England in 1578. They lived in Cheapside, where they had eight children. Hilliard took on apprentices and was made painter to the Queen alongside George Gower but still had to rely on patrons for financial relief; however, he received a small inheritance on his father’s death in Exeter.
In 1600 his difficulties continued, and he asked permission to go abroad to replenish his finances but failed to do so. Finally, in 1603, he was appointed King’s Limner to James I after the Queen had died, but in 1610 he had another business failure and was imprisoned for a debt he had guaranteed. He wrote a Treatise Concerning the Arte of Limning in his later years.
Hilliard received the last commission from James I to do his portraits; however, he died a year later, in 1618.