Sir John Maitland, 1st Baron Maitland of Thirlestane (1543-1595), aged 44

British (Scottish) School. Oil painting on panel, Sir John Maitland, 1st Baron Maitland of Thirlestane (1543-1595), aged 44, British (Scottish) School, inscribed: Atatus SVE 44/ 1589/ Chancellor Maitland. A half-length portrait of the Lord Chancellor of Scotland under James VI by whom he was appointed to the post in 1586. He is turned slightly to the right, gazing to the right, wearing a fashionable diagonally-striped black doublet with white, pointed lace-edged collar and cuffs, and a black velvet cap or bonnet decorated with an embroidered gold braid band. He holds the end of his sword hilt with his left hand with his right hand to chest, holds a key ring. In the same year as the date inscribed on the portrait Maitland accompanied the king to Scandinavia to fetch James’s bride, Anne of Denmark, although the king’s party left in October and did not return to Scotland until the spring of the next year, so it unlikely it is a commemoration of that event. He was the younger brother of the better-known William Maitland of Lethington, Secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots. He was also grandfather of Elizabeth Murray's second husband, the Duke of Lauderdale, which explains the painting's presence at Ham House. Ham House, Surrey (Accredited Museum)