Hans Eworth
Hans Eworth (who is sometimes also known as Hans Ewoutz/s) was a Flemish painter who probably emigrated to London in mid-1544 in order to escape the Catholic Court of Antwerp. By 1550 Eworth was creating some of the most unique and important portraits of the period in England. My work focuses upon Eworth's entire life--from his birth in Antwerp (probably around 1520-5) to his likely death in London during the mid-to-late 1570s. I am interested in his status as a stranger-painter, the body of work he created during his life, and in questioning the discourse that surrounds these works today.
There is, sadly, very little that we presently know about this artist's life. Although I have (and continue to) uncover new information about his biography, there is still a great deal that may never be known. We do not, for example, have a known portrait of him; we may never have any idea what he looked like. In addition, thus far at least, there is no published references to his family, his early life, or his formal training with a Master Painter. What remains, then, are the nearly 90 works of art that have been (or will be by me) attributed to him or his workshop. They are among the most moving and unique of works created in mid-16th century London and are a testament to his incredible skill as a painter. It is my great privilege and joy to be able to study them and share them with others.
Below you will find a short selected bibliography of (fairly) available sources on Eworth. It is important, however, to keep in mind that there has not been a significant treatment on this artist in thirty years; a great deal of new information as well as many newly discovered works have come to light since then and these texts should be weighed against this.
In the side bar you will find a Flash-driven presentation overview of my work, which should offer additional information. It was produced in the fall of 2009 and new materials is being written and researched all the time, so return to this space in future to look for updates. There you will also find a link to a page with links to several of Eworth's important pictures. Unfortunately many of Eworth's works are in private collections and are therefore not available for public viewing. However, the group that I have selected to link to is, I think, representative of his great skill as a painter. Enjoy!
Selected Bibliography
van Claerbergen, Ernst Vegelin. The Portrait of Sir John Luttrell: A Tudor Mystery. London: Jistlynn Ltd., 2000.Cust, Lionel. "The Painter HE," The Walpole Society Journal, 2, 1913, 1-44.
Hearn, Karen, ed. Dynasties: Painting in Tudor and Jacobean England 1530-1630. London: Tate Publishing, 1995. [Chapter Three]
Piper, David. "The Elusive Identity of Eworth," Country Life, 108, December 16, 1965, 1675-1680.
Strong, Roy C. Hans Eworth: A Tudor Artist and His Circle. Leicester: Museums and Art Gallery, 1965.
Strong, Roy C. "Hans Eworth Reconsidered," The Burlington Magazine 108(758), May 1966, 222-233.
Varkonda-Bishop, Linda. "Haunce the Drawer: A study of the life and works of a Tudor artist." Ph.D. Dissertation. Florida State University, 1979.
Waterhouse, Ellis. Painting in Britain 1530 to 1790. 4th Edition ed. London: Penguin Books Ltd, 1978. [Chapter 2]
