Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I, queen of England, otherwise called “The Virgin Queen”, was born on September 7, 1533, in Greenwich, England and died at the age of 69 on March 24, 1603, in Richmond, England. She was most likely one of England’s most famous monarchs, a princess who was initially declared illegitimate. Elizabeth was the daughter of King Henry VIII and his second wife Anne Boleyn. In 1536, at the age of two, her mother got beheaded on the king’s orders, because of charges of adultery and conspiracy, which made Elizabeth’s childhood quite difficult. After the death of Henry VIII, Elizabeth got taken care of by her stepmother who hired tutors on Elizabeth’s behalf. Later her older half-sister Mary I was crowned queen, and Catholicism returned to England. Due to their different faiths, the two could not trust each other and in 1554 Mary I imprisoned Elizabeth in the Tower of
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I chose this specific portrait of Elizabeth I because I find it quite compelling and captivating. Elizabeth I is dressed in expensive clothing, as a sign of her wealth and wearing a crown to remind of her power. The Spanish Armada ships further caught my eye, reminding of her great reign and powerful persona. Additionally, Elizabeth accomplished a lot, and I find her an interesting and inspiring independent female ruler.
Origin
The Armada portrait was painted in c. 1588, by George Gower. George Gower was a famous English painter, well known for his portraits of Elizabeth I. He also painted a self-portrait that showed his coat of arms. Very little was known of him until he got appointed the position of Serjeant painter to Queen Elizabeth in 1581, which allowed him to paint most of England’s aristocracy. However, his best-known work is this portrait made to commemorate the defeat of the Spanish Armada. The portrait is now exhibited in the Long Gallery, located in London.