Oliver, Isaac (c. 1565–1617)

English miniaturist. A Huguenot refugee, he studied under Nicholas Hilliard, but a formative influence was also a visit to Venice in the 1590s. He became a court artist in the reign of James I. He produced, as well as portrait miniatures (for example of the poet John Donne), minatures on religious subjects, following the example of Giulio Clovio.

Born in Rouen, he went to England in 1568. In contrast to Hilliard who had avoided shadow, Oliver made use of light and shade in his minatures. Because of his more Continental style, he proved popular at the court of James I, and was Hilliard's main rival from about 1600. His son Peter Oliver (1594–1648) was also ‘limner’ (painter of miniatures) to the Stuart Court, working in his father's style.