Queen Elizabeth I
(1533-1603), Reigned 1558-1603Sitter 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.
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by Unknown English artist
oil on panel, circa 1560
NPG 4449
by Steven van Herwijck
lead medal, 1565
NPG 4294
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
by Nicholas Hilliard
watercolour on vellum, 1572
NPG 108
associated with Nicholas Hilliard
oil on panel, circa 1575
On display in Room 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 190
by Unknown continental artist
oil on panel, circa 1575
On display in Room 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 2082
by Unknown artist
oil on panel, 1580s-1590s
On display at Kenilworth Castle, Kenilworth
NPG 200
by Unknown artist
oil on panel, 1585-1590
On display in Room 3 at Montacute House
NPG 2471
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
by Unknown English artist
oil on panel, circa 1600
On display in Room 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 5175
by Unknown artist
oil on panel, early 17th century with 18th century overpainting
NPG 542
by Elkington & Co, cast by Domenico Brucciani, after Maximilian Colte
electrotype, 1873, based on a work of circa 1605-1607
NPG 357
by Unknown artist
marble bust, late 18th century or 19th century
On display at Kenilworth Castle, Kenilworth
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
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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