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Tuesday, 3 November 2015

Elizabethan Portrait



Sitter - Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603), Reigned 1558-1603. Sitter associated with 125 portraits.
Artist - Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger (1561 or 1562-1636), Painter. Artist associated with 28 portraits, Sitter in 2 portraits.
Why was it painted? It probably commemorates an elaborate symbolic entertainment which Lee organised for the Queen in September 1592, and which may have been held in the grounds of Lee's house at Ditchley, near Oxford, or at the nearby palace at Woodstock.
What symbolic references are within the portrait? The portrait shows Elizabeth standing on the globe of the world, with her feet on Oxford shire. The stormy sky, the clouds parting to reveal sunshine, and the inscriptions on the painting, make it plain that the portrait's symbolic theme is forgiveness.
What does the clothing say about the sitter? The sitters clothing suggests that she is extremely wealthy as her dress is embroidered  and very elegant.

References;
Back to topThis portrait (2015) Available at: http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw02079/Queen-Elizabeth-I-The-Ditchley-portrait (Accessed: 10 December 2015).

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