The Bodleian Library is named after Sir Thomas Bodley. This exquisite miniature by Nicholas Hilliard was painted in 1598 when he was 54 years old. That year, after retiring from the diplomatic service, Bodley offered to restore the university library: ‘I concluded at the last to set up my Staffe at the Librarie-dore in Oxon; being throwghly perswaded, that in my solitude and surcease from the Commonwealth affayers, I coulde not busie my selfe to better purpose, then by redusing the place (which then in every part laye ruined and wast) to the publique use of Students’.
Nicolas Hilliard was almost certainly in Geneva with Thomas Bodley as a Marian exile 1555 - 1559. Thomas' father, John, was a key figure in saving the city in the 1580s for Calvinism.
Comments
What makes this a treasure?
breath taking !
please take care !
Posted by Nasrin Azad-McGuire
On 08/11/2012
Nicolas Hilliard was almost certainly in Geneva with Thomas Bodley as a Marian exile 1555 - 1559. Thomas' father, John, was a key figure in saving the city in the 1580s for Calvinism.
Posted by Val Offord
On 01/07/2012