George Goring Junior

George Goring Junior (c. 1555-1602) of Ovingdean and Danny Park, Hurstpierpoint, Sussex, MP for Lewes in 1593 and 1601, was the eldest son of George Goring (c. 1522-1594), also an MP for Lewes (elected to the English parliament in 1563).

In this portrait, the courtly aspirations of George Goring are vibrantly captured by Gower in the sitter’s resplendent costume; his fine lace cartwheel ruff and black velvet cloak embroidered in silver and gold thread with grape vines and acorns are worthy of the Elizabethan courtier he aspired to be. Golden acorns further adorn his doublet and the buttons themselves are acorn-shaped, all symbolising his pedigree as a ‘great oak’. The silk of his under-shirt peaks through his right sleeve, unbuttoned to reveal the embroidered letters ‘A’ and ’D’, the initials of his wife, Anne Denny.