Nicholas Hilliard (1547–1619): England’s Foremost Elizabethan Miniaturist Nicholas Hilliard, a name inextricably linked to the refined elegance of the Elizabethan age, emerged from humble beginnings in Exeter around 1547. His father, Richard Hilliard, was a staunchly Protestant goldsmith, a profession that undoubtedly instilled in young Nicholas an appreciation for meticulous craftsmanship and the allure of precious materials. This ea…