Frances, Countess of Somerset
- Artist: William Larkin
- Date: circa 1615
- Medium: oil on panel
- Dimensions: 22 5/8 in. x 17 1/4 in. (575 mm x 438 mm)
- Portrays: Frances, Countess of Somerset
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is a portrait of Frances, Countess of Somerset, painted by the studio of William Larkin around 1615. In front of us you see her face framed by soft folds of lace and an embroidered collar that drapes down to her wrists. Her hands are poised on a small table, and in the lower right corner is a tiny, clear pearl earring—an exquisite touch of jewelry that highlights the elegance of early‑sixteenth‑century court fashion.
The canvas itself is an oil on panel in a feigned oval shape, typical of Larkin’s era. The muted background lets the sitter’s rich robes and subtle facial expression stand out.
Frances was a noted beauty who rode the highs and lows of King James I’s court—married first to the Earl of Essex, then to Robert Carr, later the Earl of Somerset. She is famous for her role in the Overbury murder and the subsequent annulment of her first marriage. The portrait entered the National Portrait Gallery in 1922 and has been a key piece of their Primary Collection ever since.
See it in person
Frances, Countess of Somerset is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
