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Queen Elizabeth I

(1533-1603), Reigned 1558-1603

Sitter 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.

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Queen Elizabeth I, after Unknown artist - NPG D25030

Queen Elizabeth I

after Unknown artist
line engraving, possibly late 17th to early 18th century
NPG D25030

Queen Elizabeth I, by Johann Alexander Böner, after  Jacob Loots (Loets) - NPG D42189

Queen Elizabeth I

by Johann Alexander Böner, after Jacob Loots (Loets)
line engraving, late 17th-early 18th century
NPG D42189

Queen Elizabeth I, published by Paul van Somer - NPG D21062

Queen Elizabeth I

published by Paul van Somer
etching, late 17th century
NPG D21062

Queen Elizabeth I, after Unknown artist - NPG D21056

Queen Elizabeth I

after Unknown artist
mezzotint, late 17th century
NPG D21056

Queen Elizabeth I, possibly by Robert White - NPG D25038

Queen Elizabeth I

possibly by Robert White
line engraving, 1681
NPG D25038

Queen Elizabeth I, by Robert White, published by  Richard Chiswell - NPG D42188

Queen Elizabeth I

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 - NPG D21066

Queen Elizabeth I; Queen Mary II

by John Sturt, after Unknown artists
line engraving, circa 1689-1694
NPG D21066

Queen Elizabeth I, by Cornelis Martinus Vermeulen, after  Adriaen van der Werff - NPG D25036

Queen Elizabeth I

by Cornelis Martinus Vermeulen, after Adriaen van der Werff
line engraving, 1697
NPG D25036

Queen Elizabeth I, by Cornelis Martinus Vermeulen, after  Adriaen van der Werff - NPG D18749

Queen Elizabeth I

by Cornelis Martinus Vermeulen, after Adriaen van der Werff
line engraving, circa 1697
NPG D18749

Queen Elizabeth I, after Unknown artist - NPG D25018

Queen Elizabeth I

after Unknown artist
line engraving, 18th century
NPG D25018

Queen Elizabeth I, after Unknown artist - NPG D25019

Queen Elizabeth I

after Unknown artist
line engraving, possibly 18th century
NPG D25019

Queen Elizabeth I, by Unknown artist - NPG D25020

Queen Elizabeth I

by Unknown artist
line engraving, possibly 18th century
NPG D25020

Queen Elizabeth I, after Unknown artist - NPG D25034

Queen Elizabeth I

after Unknown artist
line engraving, possibly 18th century
NPG D25034

Queen Elizabeth I, by Peter Vanderbank (Vandrebanc), after  Edward Lutterell (Luttrell) - NPG D25022

Queen Elizabeth I

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 - NPG D48099

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 - NPG D34142

The Sovereigns of England, part 2

by John Carwitham, printed and published by Richard Caldwell, after Unknown artist
mezzotint, circa 1723-1741
NPG D34142

Queen Elizabeth I, by James Mynde - NPG D25016

Queen Elizabeth I

by James Mynde
line engraving, probably mid 18th century
NPG D25016

Queen Elizabeth I, by Richard Houston, after  Isaac Oliver - NPG D25455

Queen Elizabeth I

by Richard Houston, after Isaac Oliver
mezzotint, mid 18th century
NPG D25455

Queen Elizabeth I, by George Vertue, after  Isaac Oliver - NPG D25028

Queen Elizabeth I

by George Vertue, after Isaac Oliver
line engraving, 1732
NPG D25028

Queen Elizabeth I, by George Vertue, after  Isaac Oliver - NPG D20321

Queen Elizabeth I

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 - NPG D31831

The Procession Picture of Elizabeth I

by George Vertue, probably after Robert Peake the Elder
line engraving, 1742 (circa 1601)
NPG D31831

Queen Elizabeth I, by Richard Houston, printed for  Elizabeth Bakewell, printed for  Henry Parker, after  Isaac Oliver - NPG D9362

Queen Elizabeth I

by Richard Houston, printed for Elizabeth Bakewell, printed for Henry Parker, after Isaac Oliver
mezzotint, mid 18th century
NPG D9362

Queen Elizabeth I, by Richard Houston, after  Isaac Oliver - NPG D9363

Queen Elizabeth I

by Richard Houston, after Isaac Oliver
mezzotint, mid 18th century
NPG D9363

Queen Elizabeth I, by Simon François Ravenet - NPG D25040

Queen Elizabeth I

by Simon François Ravenet
line engraving, 1757
NPG D25040

Queen Elizabeth I, by S. Watts, after  Federico Zuccaro - NPG D31835

Queen Elizabeth I

by S. Watts, after Federico Zuccaro
stipple engraving printed in two colours, published 1773 (1575)
NPG D31835

Queen Elizabeth I ('The great and glorious days of Queen Bess'), by Unknown artist, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12319

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

Queen Elizabeth I, by Adam, after  Federico Zuccaro - NPG D31836

Queen Elizabeth I

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 - NPG D31839

Queen Elizabeth appointing her Successor (Queen Elizabeth I)

by James Neagle, published by Robert Bowyer, after Robert Smirke
line engraving, published 1796
NPG D31839

Queen Elizabeth I, by James Hopwood Sr, after  Edward Lutterell (Luttrell) - NPG D25017

Queen Elizabeth I

by James Hopwood Sr, after Edward Lutterell (Luttrell)
stipple engraving, possibly early 19th century
NPG D25017

Queen Elizabeth I, after Unknown artist - NPG D25021

Queen Elizabeth I

after Unknown artist
stipple engraving, early 19th century
NPG D25021

Queen Elizabeth I, by R. Cooper, after  Isaac Oliver - NPG D25023

Queen Elizabeth I

by R. Cooper, after Isaac Oliver
stipple engraving, probably early 19th century
NPG D25023

Queen Elizabeth I, by Robert Graves, after  Isaac Oliver - NPG D25041

Queen Elizabeth I

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 - NPG D25065

Mary, Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth I

published by Joseph Netherclift
lithograph, possibly early to mid 19th century
NPG D25065

Interview between Queen Elizabeth & the Earl of Essex, by Thomas Milton, published by  Robert Bowyer, after  Robert Smirke - NPG D31838

Interview between Queen Elizabeth & the Earl of Essex

by Thomas Milton, published by Robert Bowyer, after Robert Smirke
line engraving, published 1806
NPG D31838

Queen Elizabeth I (When Princess), by Richard Earlom, after  Nicholas Hilliard - NPG D24194

Queen Elizabeth I (When Princess)

by Richard Earlom, after Nicholas Hilliard
mezzotint, published 1810
NPG D24194

Queen Elizabeth I, by Charles Turner, after  Isaac Oliver - NPG D9364

Queen Elizabeth I

by Charles Turner, after Isaac Oliver
mezzotint, 1816 or after
NPG D9364

Queen Elizabeth I, by Charles Turner, published by  Samuel Woodburn, after  Crispijn de Passe the Elder, after  Isaac Oliver - NPG D34875

Queen Elizabeth I

by Charles Turner, published by Samuel Woodburn, after Crispijn de Passe the Elder, after Isaac Oliver
mezzotint, published 1816
NPG D34875

Queen Elizabeth I, by Charles Turner, published by  Samuel Woodburn, after  Crispijn de Passe the Elder, after  Isaac Oliver - NPG D19249

Queen Elizabeth I

by Charles Turner, published by Samuel Woodburn, after Crispijn de Passe the Elder, after Isaac Oliver
mezzotint, published 1816 or after
NPG D19249

Queen Elizabeth I, by Henry Bone, after  Unknown artist - NPG D17376

Queen Elizabeth I

by Henry Bone, after Unknown artist
pencil drawing squared in ink for transfer, November 1818
NPG D17376

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 - NPG D42664

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

Queen Elizabeth I, by Henry Bone, after  Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger - NPG D17098

Queen Elizabeth I

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 - NPG D41664

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 - NPG D24195

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 - NPG D47365

'Statues in the New Palace at Westminster'

published by Illustrated London News
wood engraving, published 10 February 1855
NPG D47365

A Change for the Better (Queen Elizabeth I; Queen Victoria), by Joseph Swain, after  Sir John Tenniel - NPG D47458

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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