#1190 Elizabeth

Portraiture played an important role in the Elizabethan era. Queen Elizabeth's portraits conveyed the regal image of a powerful monarch—the steadfast, ageless force [1] England. Owning paintings of the Queen was viewed as a status symbol. Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, displayed over 50 paintings at his Castle in Kenilworth, Warwickshire—a bold reminder [2] guests that he was the man closest to the Queen. Although Elizabethan artists drew inspiration from the European Renaissance, [3] was Elizabeth herself who was the national preoccupation. Invoking her image in paintings and literature had the effect of elevating them to a higher level. Today, we like to think of art as an expression of feelings and beliefs. But in Elizabethan England, flattery was the order of the day—a time when most artists needed wealthy sponsors [4] .