Triple Portrait of Cavendish, Drake and Hawkins

What it is

This is a painting of three men against a dark background, made by an unknown artist in the 17th century. It shows John Hawkins on the left, Francis Drake in the centre, and Thomas Cavendish on the right. Drake's arm rests against a globe, a detail that suggests the adventurous life of these men. The painting was made long after the events, and its exact date is uncertain.

Why it matters

The painting groups together three men who were linked by their voyages and by England's rivalry with Spain. Hawkins, Drake's cousin, commanded expeditions to Spanish colonies and was involved in the slave trade. Drake later became famous for attacking Spanish ships and for sailing around the world. Cavendish also made voyages of exploration. Because the painting was made much later, it shows how these men were remembered rather than how they looked in their own time.

Look closer

• Why do you think the painter placed the men together, and what does the globe suggest about them?
• What clothing and jewellery show status, and what might the painter want viewers to think about these men?
• What might this painting leave out, such as the violence of the voyages or the suffering of the people affected by the slave trade?