Sir Peter Carew (1514 - 1575)

Flicke employs a strong chiaroscuro, contrasting illuminated areas of the face and feather with deeper shadows on the clothing, creating a three‑dimensional effect. The brushwork is refined, especially in rendering the soft texture of the feather and the trimmed beard, while the overall composition reflects the early Baroque emphasis on realism and dramatic lighting.

The portrait was completed while Flicke was incarcerated in London, a period during which he also produced a miniature portrait. After its creation, the painting entered private collections before being acquired by the Scottish National Gallery, where it remains on display.

Flicke’s career was closely linked to the Tudor court, where foreign artists were often employed for portraiture. The work reflects the cross‑cultural artistic exchanges of the period, combining German training with the emerging Italian Baroque aesthetic that was influencing English portraiture in the 1550s.