Isaac Oliver Facts for Kids

This page is about the English portrait miniature painter. For the playwright, author and humorist, see Isaac Oliver (writer).

Young Man Seated under a Tree, painted between 1590 and 1595. This artwork is part of the Royal Collection.

Isaac Oliver (born around 1565 – died 1617) was a famous English artist. He was known for painting tiny, detailed portraits called miniatures.

Life of a Miniature Painter
Gallery
- Small Portrait Paintings
- Bigger Artworks
See also

Life of a Miniature Painter

Isaac Oliver was born in Rouen, France. In 1568, his family moved to London, England. They were Huguenots, a group of French Protestants. They left France to escape religious wars happening there.

Isaac learned to paint miniatures from Nicholas Hilliard. Hilliard was another famous miniature painter. Isaac developed his own style, which looked very realistic. His art was also influenced by Italian and Flemish artists.

Isaac's first wife, Elizabeth, passed away in 1599. They had a son named Peter Oliver. Peter also became a very good miniature painter. In 1602, Isaac married Sara. Her father was Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder, a well-known portrait painter.

After Queen Elizabeth I died, Isaac Oliver became a painter for King James I. He painted many portraits of the queen, Anne of Denmark, and Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales.

Isaac Oliver died in London in 1617. He was buried at a church called St Ann Blackfriars. This church was later destroyed in the Great Fire of London.

Today, you can see some of Isaac Oliver's paintings at Windsor Castle. Some of his drawings are also kept at the British Museum.