AFA Summer 2020

Summer 90 www.afamag.com | w ww.incollect.com Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I, artist unidentified, London, England, 1590–1600. Oil, formerly on wood panel. Gift of Preston Davie (1945-20). Queen Elizabeth I was crowned in 1559 and ruled Britain until her death in 1603. This commanding likeness of the monarch was inspired by the 1575 Darnley Portrait , which may have been her officially sanctioned image. Most portraits made after that date copy this version of her face but place it in varying costumes and backgrounds. Here, the unidentified artist skillfully depicted the queen in a lavish velvet gown with richly embroidered white satin sleeves. Her bodice and skirt are heavily set with pearls, rubies, sapphires, and other gemstones, and her signature white neck ruff frames her face. Documents suggest that Elizabeth actually wore garments of this kind. Never married, Elizabeth I was known as the Virgin Queen. The colony of Virginia was named in her honor.