Portrait of a gentleman, traditionally identified as John Howe, full-length, in a silver doublet, holding his hat and gloves

This striking full-length portrait shows John Howe, the son of Robert Howe (d. 1590) and his wife Elizabeth, whom he married in 1568. The third of six sons, Howe went on to establish himself as a successful London merchant. Following in his father’s footsteps, he joined the Worshipful Company of Salters, through which he forged valuable business connections with Portuguese traders who, at the time, were importing substantial quantities of salted cod from England. These connections proved advantageous in later life, securing him a passport to Portugal, where he became involved in the importation of port to London. Professor Karen Hearn, to whom we are grateful, compares the present picture with three unattributed full-length portraits formerly in the collection of Lord Willoughby de Broke at Compton Verney, later acquired by Harold Pearson, 2nd Viscount Cowdray (Christie’s, Cowdray Park, on the premises, 13–15 September 2011, 1st day, lots 310–312). She notes that the distinctive treatment of the sitter’s head and the deep, geometric folds of his costume correspond closely with the three ex-Cowdray portraits.

We are grateful to Professor Karen Hearn for her thoughts on this portrait.