Painting #D08 - Elizabeth I

The Armada Portrait
- George Gower (1540-1596, English)
- oil on canvas (133 x 105 cm) c.1588
- Woburn Abbey (Bedfordshire)

Wearing dazzling jewels and fine clothes, English Queen Elizabeth I had her right hand resting on the globe, fingers touching the Americas. The American exploration brought wealth and new enemies, such as Spain.
    Behind her top right, the Spanish Armada fleet gathers in the summer of 1588, with the misson to defeat England and overthrow the Queen.
    Behind her top left, the Spanish fleet founders in stormy English waters. (And then Spain was no longer strong.)

The Rainbow Portrait
- Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger (1561-1635, Flemish-English)
& Isaac Oliver (1556-1617, British)
- oil on canvas (127 x 99 cm) c.1600-02
- Hatfield House (Hertfordshire)

* (Msg 1) In all her magnificance encrusted with jewels, Queen Elizabeth I of England is holding a rainbow (symbolising peace) in her right hand.
* (Msg 2) The pearls, everywhere, symbolise purity --- of the Virgin Queen.
* (Msg 3) On her sleeve is an encrusted serpent (wisdom) with an orb (power) above and a little heart(emotion)-shaped ruby below --- Her heart being controlled by wisdom.
* (Msg 4) The golden robe was painted ears and eyes --- as queen, I have eyes and ears everywhere --- nothing you do will not be noticed by my loyal servants.

Face & history revealed

HM contracted smallpox and recovered: for the rest of her life she used heavy makeup to cover up facial scarring and a wig to cover her baldness.