Discuss the representations of Queen Elizabeth I in contemporary Essay

Discuss the representations of Queen Elizabeth I in contemporary literary works and art - Essay Example She had come to the throne following the death of her half-sister Mary in 1588. It can be seen on the Art Web site Steven van der Meulen. It was possibly painted as part of Elizabeth’s quest for a husband as it was common to send such pictures to possible suitors. Earlier there had been the beautiful coronation portrait by an unknown artist, now in the National Portrait Gallery, in which she holds firmly the symbols of her power – the orb and sceptre. There are many more portraits of the Queen further on in her reign. Two portraits of 1565, linked to the web page Portrait of Elizabeth I, show her as almost masculine, perhaps because it was necessary to emphasize that this young woman was as capable as a male monarch. John Bettes the Younger painted a stern picture in the1580s. The queen’s gown, as in many other portraits, is covered with symbolic meaning – Tudor roses. In her hand she holds a staff with the fleur de lys at the top – symbol of the connection with France. In the Rainbow portrait by Isaac Oliver, now to be seen at Hatfield House, she is posing as Astraea, a virginal heroine. Her gown is richly embroidered with English wild flowers. Her pearls are a symbol of virginity and the crown symbolizes her royal status. The crescent above her crown is symbolic of the goddess of the moon. On her left arm is a snake, symbolizing wisdom and in its mouth a ruby, which represents the queen’s heart – the queen’s wisdom holds her emotions in check. The celestial sphere again is a symbol of wisdom and shows again that the Queen is in control of nature. All these works can be seen on the web pages ‘Portrait of Elizabeth I’. These are only a sample of many visual depictions. One of the most famous literary references to Elizabeth is in Spenser’s ‘Faerie Queen’ where she, as well as being in several allegorical roles, appears as the queen of the fairies. Fairies in Elizabethan times were not thought of