Born in
Rouen around 1565, he moved to London in 1568 with his
Huguenot parents Peter and Epiphany Oliver to escape the
Wars of Religion in France. He then studied
miniature painting under
Nicholas Hilliard; and developed a
naturalistic style, which was largely influenced by
Italian and
Flemish art. His first wife, Elizabeth, died in 1599. With her he fathered
Peter Oliver, who was also eminent in miniature painting. In 1602, he married Sara, daughter of the well-known portrait painter
Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder () and his wife Susannah de Critz. Susannah was the daughter of Troilus de Critz, a
goldsmith from Antwerp, and close relative of
John de Critz, the
Queen's Serjeant-Painter. She was also the eldest sister or cousin of Magdalen de Critz, who married
Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger (1562–1635). After the death of
Elizabeth I, he became a painter of
James I's court, painting numerous portraits of the queen
Anne of Denmark and
Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales. He accompanied Anne of Denmark on her progresses in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Kent in 1605, and was appointed "her Majesties painter in the art of lymning". Oliver died in London in 1617 and was buried at the church of
St Ann Blackfriars, which was destroyed in the
Great Fire of London. Some of his work is housed in
Windsor Castle. Some of his pen drawings are located in the
British Museum. ==Gallery==