Queen Elizabeth I
(1533-1603), Reigned 1558-1603Sitter associated with 138 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.
More on Queen Elizabeth I: Who do you think you were? game | Elizabeth I and Her People exhibition
Explore the portrait of Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Elizabeth II (NPG D48090) from all angles
after Unknown artist
line engraving, possibly late 17th to early 18th century
NPG D25030
by Johann Alexander Böner, after Jacob Loots (Loets)
line engraving, late 17th-early 18th century
NPG D42189
published by Paul van Somer
etching, late 17th century
NPG D21062
after Unknown artist
mezzotint, late 17th century
NPG D21056
Queen Mary I; Queen Elizabeth I
after Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1677
NPG D34140
by Robert White
line engraving, circa 1681
NPG D25035
possibly by Robert White
line engraving, 1681
NPG D25038
by Robert White, published by Richard Chiswell
line engraving, circa 1681
NPG D42188
Queen Elizabeth I; Queen Mary II
by John Sturt, after Unknown artists
line engraving, circa 1689-1694
NPG D21066
Queen Elizabeth I; William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley; Sir Francis Walsingham
by William Faithorne
line engraving, published 1691
NPG D21065
by Cornelis Martinus Vermeulen, after Adriaen van der Werff
line engraving, 1697
NPG D25036
by Cornelis Martinus Vermeulen, after Adriaen van der Werff
line engraving, circa 1697
NPG D18749
'PROGNOSTICATION FAITE A ROME A UN AMBASSADEUR DU ROY D'ANGLETEREE, HENRY VII'
after Unknown artist
line engraving, perhaps 18th century
NPG D24166
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 18th century
NPG D25018
after Unknown artist
line engraving, possibly 18th century
NPG D25019
by Unknown artist
line engraving, possibly 18th century
NPG D25020
by John Simon
mezzotint, early 18th century
NPG D25027
after Unknown artist
line engraving, possibly 18th century
NPG D25034
by Peter Vanderbank (Vandrebanc), after Edward Lutterell (Luttrell)
line engraving, 1706
NPG D25022
Anne of Denmark engraved as Queen Elizabeth I
by George Vertue, after Isaac Oliver
line and stipple engraving, 1717 (circa 1610)
NPG D48099
The Sovereigns of England, part 2
by John Carwitham, printed and published by Richard Caldwell, after Unknown artist
mezzotint, circa 1723-1741
NPG D34142
by James Mynde
line engraving, probably mid 18th century
NPG D25016
The Gold and Silver Coins in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth
after Unknown artist
line engraving, probably mid 18th century
NPG D25043
by Richard Houston, after Isaac Oliver
mezzotint, mid 18th century
NPG D25455
by George Vertue, after Isaac Oliver
line engraving, 1732
NPG D25028
by George Vertue, after Isaac Oliver
line engraving, engraved 1736
NPG D20321
The Procession Picture of Elizabeth I
by George Vertue, probably after Robert Peake the Elder
line engraving, 1742 (circa 1601)
NPG D31831
The Royal Procession of Queen Elizabeth
by George Vertue
line engraving, 1743
NPG D11099
by Richard Houston, printed for Elizabeth Bakewell, printed for Henry Parker, after Isaac Oliver
mezzotint, mid 18th century
NPG D9362
by Richard Houston, after Isaac Oliver
mezzotint, mid 18th century
NPG D9363
by Simon François Ravenet
line engraving, 1757
NPG D25040
by S. Watts, after Federico Zuccaro
stipple engraving printed in two colours, published 1773 (1575)
NPG D31835
by Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1778
NPG D31629
by Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1778
NPG D31628
Queen Elizabeth I ('The great and glorious days of Queen Bess')
by Unknown artist, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 30 June 1781
NPG D12319
by Adam, after Federico Zuccaro
stipple engraving printed in two colours, published 1795 (1575)
NPG D31836
Queen Elizabeth appointing her Successor (Queen Elizabeth I)
by James Neagle, published by Robert Bowyer, after Robert Smirke
line engraving, published 1796
NPG D31839
by James Hopwood Sr, after Edward Lutterell (Luttrell)
stipple engraving, possibly early 19th century
NPG D25017
after Unknown artist
stipple engraving, early 19th century
NPG D25021
by R. Cooper, after Isaac Oliver
stipple engraving, probably early 19th century
NPG D25023
by Robert Graves, after Isaac Oliver
line engraving, possibly early 19th century
NPG D25041
Mary, Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth I
published by Joseph Netherclift
lithograph, possibly early to mid 19th century
NPG D25065
'Admiral Drake knighted by Queen Elizabeth' (Sir Francis Drake)
after Unknown artist
line engraving, probably early 19th century
NPG D2284
Interview between Queen Elizabeth & the Earl of Essex
by Thomas Milton, published by Robert Bowyer, after Robert Smirke
line engraving, published 1806
NPG D31838
after Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1807
NPG D13223
Queen Elizabeth I (When Princess)
by Richard Earlom, after Nicholas Hilliard
mezzotint, published 1810
NPG D24194
by Charles Turner, after Isaac Oliver
mezzotint, 1816 or after
NPG D9364
by Charles Turner, published by Samuel Woodburn, after Crispijn de Passe the Elder, after Isaac Oliver
mezzotint, published 1816
NPG D34875
by Charles Turner, published by Samuel Woodburn, after Crispijn de Passe the Elder, after Isaac Oliver
mezzotint, published 1816 or after
NPG D19249
by Henry Bone, after Unknown artist
pencil drawing squared in ink for transfer, November 1818
NPG D17376
Roger Ascham; Queen Elizabeth I
published by William Smith
line engraving, 1820s
NPG D25553
Roger Ascham; Queen Elizabeth I
published by William Smith
line engraving, 1820s
NPG D7386
Henry the Seventh's Chapel. Monuments and Details
by and published by John Preston Neale, by John Carter, by James Robert Thompson, published by Hurst, Robinson & Co
line engraving and etching, published 1 July 1821
NPG D42664
by Henry Bone, after Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger
pencil drawing squared in ink for transfer, 1822 (circa 1592)
NPG D17098
William Shakespeare's interview with Queen Elizabeth I
by William Ensom, after Thomas Stothard
etching and line engraving, 1828
NPG D41664
Queen Elizabeth I (When Princess)
by Henry Edward Dawe, after John Graham
mezzotint, published 1830
NPG D24195
'Statues in the New Palace at Westminster'
published by Illustrated London News
wood engraving, published 10 February 1855
NPG D47365
A Vision (Queen Victoria; Queen Elizabeth I)
by Unknown artist
wood engraving, published 11 July 1868
NPG D10860
'A Comparison' (Queen Elizabeth I; Queen Victoria; Britannia; Ellen Terry as Hamlet)
by William Frederick Measom
wood engraving, published 24 March 1869
NPG D47435
A Change for the Better (Queen Elizabeth I; Queen Victoria)
by Joseph Swain, after Sir John Tenniel
wood engraving, published in Punch 31 July 1869
NPG D47458
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