page_title: Whitehall Group
section_title: Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel
hierarchical_section_title: Whitehall Group / Members of the Group / Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel
caption_attribution_description: English: Aletheia Howard depicted with the Arundel's picture gallery in the background
context_page_description: The Whitehall group is a term applied to a small circle of art connoisseurs, collectors, and patrons, closely associated with King Charles I, who introduced a taste for the Italian old masters to England. The term usually includes the advisors and agents who facilitated the group's acquisition of works of art.
context_section_description: Thomas, Earl of Arundel (sometimes known as "the collector earl") and his wife Aletheia were dedicated art connoisseurs. They were arguably the greatest collectors in early Stuart England. Thomas had gained some works from the collection of his uncle, Baron Lumley. In 1613, Arundel and his wife paid an extended visit to Italy in the company of Inigo Jones and 34 attendants (among whom was William Petty). In Venice, they were joined by Sir Dudley Carleton who was the ambassador to Venice.
  When the Countess inherited a third of her father's estate they were able to pursue their passion for collection. Their activities in collecting statues and paintings was emphasised in a pair of portraits painted by Daniël Mijtens by depicting them in front of their sculpture and picture galleries.
  They fled abroad as a result of the Civil War. Their collection was slowly dispersed because of the need to sell to support themselves. When Arundel died, he still possessed 700 paintings, along with large collections of sculpture, books, prints, drawings, and antique jewelry. Most of his collection of marble carvings, known as the Arundel marbles, was eventually left to the University of Oxford. What remained of the collection was sold by their son, following Aletheia's death.
caption: The Countess of Arundel with the picture gallery in the background
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