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Queen Elizabeth I

(1533-1603), Reigned 1558-1603

Sitter associated with 135 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: Tudor & Jacobean Portraits book in our Shops | Elizabethan Treasures: Miniatures by Hilliard and Oliver catalogue in our Shops | Who do you think you were | Elizabeth I and Her People | Queens of England range in our Shops | Monarchs range in our Shops | Kings & Queens range in our Shops

Explore the portrait of Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Elizabeth II (NPG D48090) from all angles

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Queen Elizabeth I

by Unknown English artist
oil on panel, circa 1560
NPG 4449

Queen Elizabeth I

by Steven van Herwijck
lead medal, 1565
NPG 4294

Queen Elizabeth I

by Unknown artist
electrotype of a so-called pattern for a sovereign, 19th century, based on a work from the late 16th century
NPG 446

Queen Elizabeth I

by Nicholas Hilliard
watercolour on vellum, 1572
NPG 108

Queen Elizabeth I

associated with Nicholas Hilliard
oil on panel, circa 1575
NPG 190

Queen Elizabeth I

by Unknown continental artist
oil on panel, circa 1575
NPG 2082

Queen Elizabeth I

by Unknown artist
oil on panel, 1580s-1590s
NPG 200

Queen Elizabeth I

by Unknown artist
oil on panel, 1585-1590
NPG 2471

Queen Elizabeth I

by Unknown English artist
oil on panel, circa 1588
NPG 541

Queen Elizabeth I ('Elizabeth I and the Three Goddesses')

attributed to Isaac Oliver
watercolour and bodycolour on vellum, circa 1590
NPG 6947

Queen Elizabeth I ('The Ditchley portrait')

by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger
oil on canvas, circa 1592
NPG 2561

Unknown woman, possibly Queen Elizabeth I

by Unknown artist
pencil and watercolour, circa 1595
NPG 2825

Queen Elizabeth I

by Unknown English artist
oil on panel, circa 1600
NPG 5175

Queen Elizabeth I

by Unknown artist
oil on panel, early 17th century with 18th century overpainting
NPG 542

Queen Elizabeth I

by Elkington & Co, cast by Domenico Brucciani, after Maximilian Colte
electrotype, 1873, based on a work of circa 1605-1607
NPG 357

Queen Elizabeth I

by Unknown artist
marble bust, late 18th century or 19th century
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

Queen Elizabeth I (Frontispage to Compendiosa totius anatomie delineatio, ære exarata / per Thomam Geminum)

by Thomas Gemini
line engraving, mid 16th century
NPG D25026

Queen Elizabeth I and three unknown councillors

after Unknown artist
woodcut, circa 1563 (published circa 1570)
NPG D47463

Procession of the Knights of the Garter (sheet 1)

after Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder
photograph of engraving, (1576)
NPG D31853

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Queen Elizabeth I