Elisabeth I of England (1533–1603)

Besides the depiction of her coronation, this is one of the most famous portraits of Elisabeth I (1533–1603). It has survived in three different versions. The Armada that is visible on the left edge of the painting represents the political successes of Elisabeth. On this version, her right hand is not visible. In other versions it is resting on a globe, with the fingers pointing to the New World. In this way, this representation of the Queen both confirms her power and her claim to expansion.

Unknown artist, Queen Elisabeth I of England, oil on wood, 97.8 x 72.4 cm, ca. 1588; image source: © National Portrait Gallery, London;  Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported.