Algernon Percy (1602–1668), Tenth Earl of Northumberland, after Van Dyck

Art Historical Context

This exquisite enamel miniature, created by British artist Henry Bone in 7, captures the dignified likeness of Algernon Percy, Tenth Earl of Northumberland (2–1668). Titled *Algernon Percy (2–1668), Tenth Earl of Northumberland, after Dyck*, it is a faithful reproduction of a portrait by the renowned Flemish Baroque master Anthony van Dyck, whose elegant, psychologically penetrating style defined 17th-century English portraiture. Percy, a prominent Royalist nobleman during the English Civil Wars, was known for his wealth, patronage of the arts, and lavish courtly life at Petworth House—making him an ideal subject for Van Dyck's aristocratic commissions. Bone, a leading miniaturist of the Romantic era, specialized in enamel painting, a technique involving finely ground glass fired onto metal for a luminous, gem-like durability. At 7 x 5⅜ inches (178 x 136 mm), this intimate work exemplifies the revival of miniature portraits in the 19th century, prized for their portability and precision. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Paintings department as part of The Moses Lazarus Collection (gifted 1888–95), it bridges centuries, inviting visitors to admire the Earl's poised gaze and the enduring allure of enamel's radiant translucency.