Lot 14: Isaac Oliver (Anglo-French, c.1560-1617) A Noblewoman, called 'Mrs. Holland', wearing black dress,

the front panel with gold and silver braid and silver rosette, further rosettes on her sleeves and in her upswept brown hair, white lace ruff and gold hoop earring, red curtain background (overpainted) with gold border watercolour on vellum stuck to playing card, signed with monogram IO (reinforced), gilt-metal frame with pierced spiral cresting oval, 51mm. (2in.) high Provenance: L.H. Gilbert Geoffrey Whitehead Charles Sotheby, by whom acquired from the above in 1861 Sotheby Collection; sale Sotheby's, London; 11th October, 1955, lot 69 Gutman Collection, Part IV, Parke Bernet, New York, 3rd April, 1970, lot 76 Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Twiston-Davies Literature: G.C. Williamson, The Miniature Collector, 1921, illustrated pl.VII, no.3 E. Auerbach, Nicholas Hilliard, 1961, p.242, pl.204 It is possible that this portrait represents Isabel, Countess of Holland (d.1655), wife of Henry Rich, 1st Earl of Holland, whom she married in 1616. He inherited Holland House in Holland Park, London, from Isabel's father, Sir Walter Cope. Lord Holland (1590-1649) rose rapidly in court favour after negotiating the marriage of Charles I and Henrietta Maria. During the Civil War, he frequently changed sides. In 1642 he joined the Parliamentary party, went back to Charles in 1643, and then back again to the Parliamentary side. In 1648 he again took up arms for the king, but was captured at St. Neots, July 1648, and beheaded. There are two other miniatures called 'Mrs. Holland', from this period. One by Nicholas Hilliard (Victoria and Albert Museum) and the other by Isaac Oilver (Duke of Buccleuch Collection). These two differ in both date and physiognomy to the present lot.