Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603), Reigned 1558-1603
Sitter associated with 122 portraits
The daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth came to the throne on the death of her half-sister, Mary I. Her long reign, beginning in 1558, saw the secure establishment of the Church of England. It was characterised by relative peace and prosperity, a great increase in foreign trade and exploration, and a flourishing literary culture. Despite receiving many proposals of marriage, Elizabeth remained single and became legendary as the 'virgin queen'. She had many favourites, but none more important than Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester, who sought to win her hand in marriage.
by Unknown artist
oil on panel, circa 1560
NPG 4449
by Steven van Herwijck
lead medal, 1565
NPG 4294
by Unknown artist
oil on panel, late 16th - early 17th century (circa 1559)
On display in Room 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 5175
by Unknown artist
electrotype of a so-called pattern for a sovereign, 19th century (late 16th century)
NPG 446
by Nicholas Hilliard
watercolour on vellum, 1572
NPG 108
attributed to Nicholas Hilliard
oil on panel, circa 1575
NPG 190
by Unknown artist
oil on panel, circa 1575
On display in Room 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 2082
by Unknown artist
oil on panel, 1580-1590
On display at Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire
NPG 200
by Unknown artist
oil on panel, circa 1585-1590
NPG 2471
attributed to George Gower
oil on panel, circa 1588
NPG 541
Queen Elizabeth I ('The Ditchley portrait')
by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger
oil on canvas, circa 1592
On display in Room 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 2561
Unknown woman, possibly Queen Elizabeth I
by Unknown artist
pencil and watercolour, circa 1595
On display in Room 33 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 2825
by Elkington & Co, cast by Domenico Brucciani, after Maximilian Colte
electrotype, 1873 (circa 1605-1607)
NPG 357
by Unknown artist
oil on panel, late 17th century or later
NPG 542
by Unknown artist
marble bust, late 18th century or 19th century
On display at Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire
NPG 5474
'The Kings and Queens of England: From the Conquest to Queen Victoria'
by Henry Hering
albumen carte-de-visite photomontage, 1862
NPG Ax131392
by Thomas Gemini
line engraving, mid 16th century
NPG D25026
by Crispijn de Passe the Elder, after Isaac Oliver
line engraving, probably late 16th to early 17th century
NPG D25180
Procession of the Knights of the Garter (sheet 1)
after Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder
photograph of engraving, (1576)
NPG D31853
after Unknown artist
line engraving, circa 1587
NPG D20951
Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge, Chingford, London
Category
Royalty, Rulers and Aristocracy
Groups
London
Monarchs
Surrey
Shopping
- Royal Lineage poster
- The National Portrait Gallery Book of Elizabeth I
- Fitted T-Shirt: Elizabeth I "Quote"
- Fitted T-Shirt: Elizabeth I "Quote"
- Fitted T-Shirt: Elizabeth I "Quote"
- Fitted T-Shirt: Elizabeth I "Quote"
- Fitted T-Shirt: Elizabeth I "Quote"
- A Guide to Tudor & Jacobean Portraits (paperback)
- Insights: Shakespeare and His Contemporaries (hardcover)
- A Guide to the National Portrait Gallery (paperback)
- Oscar Wilde "Quote" coin purse
- The Rulers Ruler
- The Elizabethans postcard pack
- Famous Faces Playing Cards
- Colour-in Postcards: Elizabeth I
Related pages
- WebQuest: Famous People Guy Fawkes
- WebQuest: Elizabeth I's New Portrait
- WebQuest: Painting Elizabeth I
- WebQuest: Henry VIII's Next Wife?
- Concealed and Revealed:
The Changing Faces of Elizabeth I - My Favourite Portrait by Fiona Shaw
- My Favourite Portrait by P.D. James
- Concealed and Revealed: The Changing Faces of Elizabeth I
- Highlights from the survey
- The Tudors
- WebQuest: History of Hair and Beauty
- Exploring Elizabeth I
- Shakespeare quiz
- Teachers' notes
- WebQuest: Portrait Prize
- WebQuest: Beyond Portraits
- Imagined Lives: portraits of unknown people
Exhibitions and displays
- Imagined Lives: Portraits of Unknown People
Until 8 July
Thematic collections
- Photomontage
- Photo collage
- Miniatures
- Miniatures
- Portraits featuring - Necklace
- Portraits featuring - Brooch
- Flowers and plants
- Fans
- Top selling prints
- Audio Guide: Tudor and Elizabethan portraits
- Maps and globes
- Portraits featuring - Earring
- Portraits featuring - Ring
- Effigies
- Medals and medallions
- Jewellery
- Crowns and tiaras
- Portraits featuring - Chain





















