Page 16 - Giornalino Barsanti Marzo 2021

GALLERIA PALATINA Teacher’s

Worksheet 9

Marcus the Younger Gheeraerts (school of), Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I

This is one of the many official court portraits of the famous
queen of England, Elizabeth I. These paintings were often found

in palaces in Europe, brought by English ambassadors. She was
the most powerful woman in the world at the time this was paint-
ed, around 1590.
She loved wearing jewelled dresses and the peculiar cloak collar
and high ruff, which seem to frame her face.
How does she look to you? She looks very proud and stern.
What else can you say about this portrait? In their portraits,

wealthy and powerful women are shown with elaborate hair-
styles and wearing beautiful jewels. Their clothes are made of dif-
ferent types of fabric, especially the very expensive ones, like
brocade and lace.