Elizabeth and
Representation
“Most portraits of Elizabeth as queen are
concerned with conveying an image rather than
the truth of her appearance or character. She
never appears less than confident and regal.”
ICONOGRAPHY
• The images and symbolic
representations that are traditionally
associated with a person or a subject;
• According to Roy Strong in Gloriana (1987),
“the deliberate development of state festivals
in glorification of rulers, the evolution of the
palace as an architectural complex and the
patronage of humanist poets and
historiographers” were all ways in which
rulers in early modern Europe consolidated
their power and expanded the “Idea of
Monarchy”
 Elizabeth 1 attempted to control production and
distribution of royal portraits
 Invoked not individual likeness but “abstract principles of
rule” (in neo-Platonist terms, “idea” or “form” of kingship)
 Served moral function: portrayal of good ruler would
encourage subjects to act virtuously
 Took place of religious icons EG worship of Virgin
Mary/worship of Virgin Queen
 Lockets of Elizabeth worn like religious medals , symbols
of sacred nature of royal person
 1570s wearing of limnings of queen within jeweled
lockets became fashionable
 Played part in international politics / portraits of Elizabeth
on continent often connected with marriage negotiations
Princess 1550-Queen 1565
• 1579 was turning point in Elizabethan
portraiture???
• year of first allegorical portrait of queen
- connected with development of cult of Virgin
Queen and myth of Golden Age
• related to knowledge queen would not marry,
expectation of war with Catholic Spain, and
growth of English maritime imperialism
• Motto of Semper Aedeum “ always the Same”
was easily applied to her portraiture
Elizabeth I: The Darnley
Portrait, 1575, by an
unknown artist
Elizabeth I: The Pelican Portrait,
c1575, attributed to Nicholas
Hilliard.
Along with Hilliard's equally famous
'Phoenix Portrait', this picture shows
the growing stylization of images of
the queen. Such stylization reached its
apogee in the beautiful 'Rainbow
Portrait‘
There is a closed imperial crown over
each shoulder. The crown is on top of
both a rose (on the left) and a fleur-delys (on the right.) These represent her
dynastic claims to both England and
France.
The Pelican pendant on her breast
symbolizes charity and redemption. It
represents the queen's selfless love of her
subjects. How? According to legend, the
pelican pricked its own breast to feed its
children with the blood. Elizabeth wore a
pelican jewel in several state portraits to
remind the English of her equally selfless
love.
•The Peace Portrait1580-5, by
Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder. In
this portrait, the queen is the
harbinger of peace. She holds an
olive branch in her left hand and a
sheathed sword lies at her feet.
• She is possibly wearing the same
headdress, collar and girdle from
the 'Ermine Portrait'.
•Also, both gowns are 'Polish style'
with froggings.
•From the date, we can assume the
symbolism refers to the turbulent
situation in the Netherlands.
Elizabeth I: The Sieve Portrait,
c1583, by Quentin Metsys the
Younger. Elizabeth is portrayed
with a sieve in a number of
portraits. This one is referred to
as either the 'Sieve Portrait' or
'The Siena Portrait', to
distinguish it from the others. It
is one of the few surviving
works of Quentin Metsys the
Younger and was discovered in
1895
The sieve is a symbol of chastity
and purity,
The figure to the right of Elizabeth
is possibly her courtier Sir
Christopher Hatton. His white hind
badge is just barely visible on the
figure's cloak. If so, then it is
possible that Hatton commissioned
this portrait; he may have met
Metsys during a trip to Antwerp in
1573.
• Elizabeth did not like paintings which
showed her age or physical decay. Her
limner, Nicholas Hilliard, was asked to
create a formalized image of the
queen known as the “mask of youth”
•Elizabeth I: The Ermine Portrait, 1585,
by Nicholas Hilliard. Why is Elizabeth
seated with an ermine? It was the symbol
of royalty; and, if you look closely at the
animal, you can see the gold crown it
wears. The crown symbolizes majesty
and purity.
• As for the bejeweled black gown and
background - black and white were the
queen's favorite colors. Also, the deep,
dark color reinforces the symbolic gravity
of the painting.
•In this portrait, Elizabeth wears the
famous 'Three Brothers' jewel - a gem
made of three diamonds set in a triangle
around a pointed diamond. It was one of
her most treasured jewels.
• The sword of state rests on the
table beside the queen and
symbolizes justice; she also holds
an olive branch to symbolize peace.
•Elizabeth I: The Armada Portrait,
c1588, unknown artist. . Symbolism
is rife in this famous image, of which
there are three versions.
•Once again, pearls - symbolic of
purity - decorate the queen's head and
gown.
• Next to her right arm is an imperial
crown, and her right hand rests upon
a globe - specifically, her fingers rest
upon the Americas.
•In 1587, a year before this portrait
was made, the first English child was
born at the English settlement in
Virginia. The crown and globe tell us
that Elizabeth is mistress of land and
sea.
In the background of the painting are
scenes from the defeat of the Spanish
Armada in 1588. It was the pivotal
event of the latter half of Elizabeth's
reign and a great triumph for the
English.
The queen is wearing a pearl necklace
given to her by the earl of Leicester; it
was Robert Dudley's last gift to the
queen.
Elizabeth I: The Ditchley Portrait, c1592, by
Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger.
The queen stands upon a map of England, with
one foot resting near Ditchley.
It celebrates Elizabeth's divine powers; a
jeweled celestial sphere hangs from the queen's
left ear, signifying her command over nature
itself. The sphere had been Lee's emblem when
he fought as Elizabeth's champion in the annual
Accession Day tilts. The background of this
portrait appears odd - it is split between blue
and sunny sky on the left, and black and stormy
sky on the right. This continues the theme of
royal authority over nature.
among the first to employ chiaroscuro (use
of light and shade)
In 1592, Elizabeth's former champion,
Sir Henry Lee, sought to regain her
favor with lavish entertainment at his
home in Ditchley, Oxfordshire. He
had retired from court two years
earlier, having offended the queen by
living openly with his mistress. He
commissioned this portrait to
commemorate Elizabeth's visit and
forgiveness.
Elizabeth I: The Rainbow Portrait, c1600, by
Isaac Oliver.
Elizabeth's gown is embroidered with English
wildflowers, thus allowing the queen to pose in
the guise of Astraea, the virginal heroine of
classical literature.
Her cloak is decorated with eyes and ears,
implying that she sees and hears all. Her
headdress is an incredible design decorated
lavishly with pearls and rubies and supports her
royal crown.
The pearls symbolize her virginity; the crown,
of course, symbolizes her royalty.
Pearls also adorn the transparent veil which
hangs over her shoulders. Above her crown is a
crescent-shaped jewel which alludes to Cynthia,
the goddess of the moon.
A jeweled serpent is entwined along her left arm, and holds from its
mouth a heart-shaped ruby. Above its head is a celestial
sphere. The serpent symbolizes wisdom; it has captured the ruby,
which in turn symbolizes the queen's heart.
In other words, the queen's passions are controlled by her
wisdom. The celestial sphere echoes this theme; it symbolizes
wisdom and the queen's royal command over nature.
Elizabeth's right hand holds a rainbow with the Latin inscription
'Non sine sole iris' ('No rainbow without the sun'). The rainbow
symbolizes peace, and the inscription reminds viewers that only the
queen's wisdom can ensure peace and prosperity.
Elizabeth was in her late sixties when this portrait was made, but for
iconographic purposes she is portrayed as young and beautiful,
more than mortal. In this portrait, she is ageless.
The Coronation Portrait 1600
This is a copy of the portrait made to
commemorate Elizabeth's accession in
1558. It is a stunning and beautiful
image. Elizabeth is lavishly dressed and
holds the traditional orb and scepter. Her
hair is loose, as befits her unmarried state,
and its color is particularly striking
against the white of her skin. And, once
again, Elizabeth's much-admired hands
are prominently displayed as they rest
upon the symbols of her authority.