Neck Ruff Collection

The Laughing Cavalier, 1624, (1943). Creator: Frans Hals
The Laughing Cavalier, 1624, (1943). Painting in the Wallace Collection, London. From " The Studio", Volume 125. [The Offices of the Studio, London & New York, 1943]

Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke, c1600, (1942). Creator: Paulus van Somer
Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke, c1600, (1942). Portrait of author, playwright and poet Mary Sidney Herbert (1561-1621)

Portrait of Sir Edwin Sandys, with turned-down ruff, c1560-1570, (1937). Creator: Unknown
Portrait of Sir Edwin Sandys, showing a turned-down ruff, the predecessor of the Vandyke collar. Reign of James I, c1560-1570, (1937). Edwin Sandys (1519-1588) English Archbishop

Portrait of a Woman, 1630. Creator: Nicolaes Eliasz Pickenoy
Portrait of a Woman, 1630

Elizabeth I (1533-1603) Queen of England (engraving)
863740 Elizabeth I (1533-1603) Queen of England (engraving); (add.info.: Elizabeth I (1533-1603) queen of England from 1558. Daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, she was the last Tudor

"The Queen's Highway in the Sixteenth Century", by J. Hayllar... 1864. Creator: W Thomas
"The Queen's Highway in the Sixteenth Century", by J. Hayllar, in the Winter Exhibition at the gallery of the Institute of Painters in Water-colours, 1864. Engraving of a painting

Unknown woman possibly German princess, c16th century. Creator: Anon
Unknown woman possibly German princess, c16th century

Sofia, 1547-1611, Princess of Sweden Duchess of Saxony-Lau, c16th century. Creator: Anon
Sofia, 1547-1611, Princess of Sweden Duchess of Saxony-Lau, c16th century

Unknown woman, formerly called Elisabet, 1549-1597, Princess of Sweden, 1580. Creator: Anon
Unknown woman, formerly called Elisabet, 1549-1597, Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Mecklenburg, 1580

Unknown woman, c18th century. Creator: Sophie-Clemence Delacazette
Unknown woman, c18th century

Three Venetian Counsellors, 16th century. Creator: Circle of Jacopo Tintoretto
Three Venetian Counsellors, 16th century

Portrait of a Family, 1661. Creator: Pieter Codde
Portrait of a Family, 1661

Unknown man, 1596. Creator: Nicholas Hilliard
Unknown man, 1596

Unknown man Possible member of the Cavendish family, c17th century. Creator: John Hoskins I
Unknown man Possible member of the Cavendish family, c17th century

Portrait of the artist's wife Sofia Dorotea Sandberg née Kökeritz, c1820. Creator: Johan Gustaf Sandberg
Portrait of the artist's wife Sofia Dorotea Sandberg nee Kokeritz, c1820

Portrait of a 22-Year-Old Woman, 1622. Creators: Cornelis van de Voort, Pieter Miereveld
Portrait of a 22-Year-Old Woman, 1622

Isabella of Bourbon. First Queen of King Philip IV, 1614-1660. Creator: Diego Velasquez
Isabella of Bourbon. First Queen of King Philip IV, 1614-1660

"How Well We Go Together", 1604-1662. Creator: Adriaen van de Venne
"How Well We Go Together", 1604-1662

Portrait of a Man, 1592-1640. Creator: Peter Paul Rubens
Portrait of a Man, 1592-1640

Portrait of the Nuremberg Goldsmith Hans Lencker (1523-1585) and his 9-year old son Elisius the Younger, 1570

Lucy Russell, Countess of Bedford (née Harington) (158001627), 1610s. Creator: William Larkin
Lucy Russell, Countess of Bedford (nee Harington) (1580-1627), 1610s

Karl van Cracow, Dutch Minister in Elsinore, 1632. Creator: Jan Anthonisz van Ravesteyn
Karl van Cracow, Dutch Minister in Elsinore, 1632

Isabella Klara Eugenia, 1566-1633, married to Archduke Albrecht of Austria. Creator: Frans Pourbus the Younger
Isabella Klara Eugenia, 1566-1633, married to Archduke Albrecht of Austria, Unknown date

Hugo Birger, the Artist, as a Mercenary, 1879. Creator: Ernst Josephson
Hugo Birger, the Artist, as a Mercenary, 1879

Portrait of a Young Man, possibly G. Pesaro, c17th century. Creator: Domenico Tintoretto
Portrait of a Young Man, possibly G. Pesaro, c17th century

"A Merry Christmas!", 1860. Creator: Godwin. "A Merry Christmas!", 1860. Creator: Godwin
"A Merry Christmas!", 1860. From "Illustrated London News", 1860

Jan van Goyen, His Wife and Child, 1771. Creator: John Wright
Jan van Goyen, His Wife and Child, 1771

AI IMAGE - Portrait of William Shakespeare, 1600s, (2023). Creator: Heritage Images
AI IMAGE - Portrait of William Shakespeare, 1600s, (2023). English author, playwright and poet William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

AI IMAGE - Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I in prayer, 16th century, (2023). Creator: Heritage Images
AI IMAGE - Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I in prayer, 16th century, (2023). Elizabeth I (1533-1603) was Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 until her death

AI IMAGE - A portrait of Queen Elizabeth I, 2023. Creator: Heritage Images
AI IMAGE - A portrait of Queen Elizabeth I, 2023. Elizabeth I (1533-1603) was Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 until her death, She was the last monarch of the House of Tudor

Portrait of a Lady, c17th century. Creator: Cornelis de Vos
Portrait of a Lady, c17th century

Book of Italian Costumes, c1588. Creator: Niclauss Kippell
Noblewoman of Mantua, c1588. Italian text: Una Nobil Donna Manto-vana. Illustration from a book of Italian costumes

Portrait of Rhys Griffiths, 1617. Creator: Isaac Oliver I
Portrait of Rhys Griffiths, 1617

Lady Anne Bacon, c1600. Creator: Isaac Oliver I
Lady Anne Bacon, c1600. English scholar and writer Anne, Lady Bacon (nee Cooke, c1527-1610) made a lasting contribution to English religious literature with her translation from Latin of John

William III, 1475-1511, Duke of Jülich and Berg, c1500s. Creator: Anon
William III, 1475-1511, Duke of Julich and Berg, c1500s

Ture Bielke of Åkerö, 1548-1600, 1590. Creator: Anon
Ture Bielke of...kero, 1548-1600, 1590

Portrait of a Young Woman with a Pink, 1560-1569. Creator: Bartholomaeus Bruyn the Younger
Portrait of a Young Woman with a Pink, 1560-1569. This young woman offers a pink (or dianthus, related to the carnation) to someone on her right, probably her betrothed

Portrait of a Gentleman, 1560-1569. Creator: Frans Floris
Portrait of a Gentleman, 1560-1569. The severe costume with its high, closed neck, starched ruff, and discretely ribbed sleeves

Portrait of a 28-Year-Old Man, Probably from the Snouck Family, 1603-1610. Creator: Unknown
Portrait of a 28-Year-Old Man, Probably from the Snouck Family, 1603-1610. This gentleman wears the sober but elegant Spanish-inspired costume of the upper classes in the Southern Netherlands

Old Woman and Child Reading a Book, 1840s. Creator: Richard Caton Woodville
Old Woman and Child Reading a Book, 1840s. An old woman sits with her feet propped on a hassock, looking pensively into the distance. The young girl at her side reads from a large book

Sigismund, 1566-1632, King of Sweden King of Poland, c17th century. Creator: Anon
Sigismund, 1566-1632, King of Sweden King of Poland, c17th century

Portrait of Girolamo Mercuriale, 1588-1589. Creator: Lavinia Fontana
Portrait of Girolamo Mercuriale, 1588-1589. The Italian physician and scholar Girolamo Mercuriale (1530-1606) reads an edition of the pioneering work on human anatomy "On the Fabric of the Human

Henry IV, 1553-1610, King of France, c16th century. Creator: Anon
Henry IV, 1553-1610, King of France, c16th century

Portrait of a Noblewoman, 1617. Creator: Unknown
Portrait of a Noblewoman, 1617

Portrait of a Man, c17th century. Creator: Claude Vignon
Portrait of a Man, c17th century

Portrait of Cornelis Jacobsz. Delff, 1712-1795. Creator: Tako Hajo Jelgersma
Portrait of Cornelis Jacobsz. Delff, 1712-1795

Mauritz Sture, 1552-92, c16th century. Creator: Anon
Mauritz Sture, 1552-92, c16th century

Portrait of Michiel van Mierevelt, holding Jacob Willemsz. Delff painting, 1792. Creator: Aert Schouman
Portrait of Michiel van Mierevelt, holding Jacob Willemsz. Delff painting, 1792

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"Exploring the Elegance of Neck Ruffs: A Fashion Statement Across Centuries" Step back in time and immerse yourself in the intricate world of neck ruffs, a fashion accessory that transcended eras. From Frans Hals' iconic painting "The Laughing Cavalier" to Nicolaes Eliasz Pickenoy's captivating "Portrait of a Woman, " these masterpieces showcase the allure and grandeur of this unique garment. In 1624, Frans Hals captured the essence of sophistication with his portrayal of an unknown cavalier donning an elaborate neck ruff. The delicate folds and exquisite lacework add a touch of opulence to his already striking presence. Moving forward to c1600, Paulus van Somer immortalized Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke, wearing a regal neck ruff that exudes power and grace. This portrait is a testament to how neck ruffs became synonymous with nobility during this era. Fast forward once again to c1560-1570 when turned-down ruffs gained popularity as seen in the portrait of Sir Edwin Sandys by an unknown artist from 1937. The subtle elegance emanating from his attire showcases how even slight variations in style could make a significant impact on fashion trends. Queen Elizabeth Dancing with the Earl of Leicester in 1581 provides us with another glimpse into this fascinating trend. The queen herself flaunts an extravagant collar-like ruff that accentuates her royal stature while gracefully gliding across the dance floor. Sir Martin Frobisher's late 16th-century portrait by Cornelius Ketel highlights yet another variation – a more restrained version known as standing collars or cartwheel ruffs. These understated yet refined designs were favored by men seeking both comfort and style. Ellen Maurice's enchanting image painted by Marcus Gheeraerts captures her beauty enhanced by an intricately pleated neck ruff.