The Hidden Meanings in the Portraits of Queen Elizabeth I

Discover the hidden messages and symbolism in the famous portraits of Elizabeth I - the powerful Tudor queen.

Elizabeth I is one of the most iconic figures from British history - her image can be recognised in an instant. But this was no mistake, for Elizabeth’s portraits were an audacious act of spin to cement her image of female majesty. In this documentary, Dr Nicola Tallis and Prof Anna Whitelock take a close look at the progression of these portraits in light of surrounding political turmoil. By exploring the portraits in forensic detail, they decode a puzzle of bizarre symbolism and hidden meaning, and shine a surprising light on the Elizabethan era. Why did objects such as moons, pelicans, globes and roses carry so much meaning? How did Elizabeth forge and utilise her apparent virginity to strengthen her position? How, in short, did Elizabeth I become an icon?

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[yensid]

The attention to detail of the opulant clothing & jewels contrasts so strikingly with how little detail was applied to her face & hands in many of these portraits (with the exception of Holbein's) She was quite stunning in a stark way with her porcelein skin, aqualine nose & sharper bone structure. I wonder if the depiction of smoothe, white face & hands was chosen due to the smallpox leaving its mark on her? Losing her teeth would have also affected the appearance of the lower facial structure, particularly the jaw & mouth. She certainly wasn't the first monarch to use a stylized or idealized image of herself as propaganda. She was a sharp cookie & must have been a tremendously strong willed person to endure as long as she did as a single ruling female head of state. True, she didn't produce any heirs but she didn't take the chance of dying in childbirth either. A King can always remarry & get another queen or legitimize any bastard children he may have had. A Queen regnant did not have that option.

[raeperonneau]

No better proof of her success than people still discussing her 420 years later. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[PhyllisGlassupTheBrim]

She is my favourite monarch.
I've often wondered why she chose to remain single and I have a feeling that it was because of her father who demonstrated that men *own* you if you marry. You lose any self worth and become a possession of the man and subject to his will If he is a cruel husband, you'll have a life of misery and be powerless.
Frankly, she did the right thing by not marrying.

[carolinebarnes]

I have always been fascinated by the Tudors and especially Elizabeth and I have read loads of books on the period as well as watching documentaries. It is obvious to me why Elizabeth avoided marriage, even though she dangled the prospect of marriage in front of the royal families of Europe as long as she could get away with it.

Imagine yourself as the three year old hearing that your mother has been beheaded for adultery. Her father had her mother executed, and as she grew up she watched how other women were treated by him, including the beheading of Katherine Howard, and her beloved Katherine Parr came close to the same end but luckily for her Henry died before that could come about.

Then there was the scandal of her teenage years when she had to defend herself from accusations of hanky panky between her and the Lord High Admiral of the time who was engaged to Katherine Parr before she caught the eye of the King. After Henry's death I think they, Katherine and Thomas, did finally marry, but I am not certain, my memory fails me on that point.

No wonder Elizabeth could never give herself up into the power of a man and she was uniquely placed to hold onto her independence. Other women of the time were not so fortunate. I am surprised that nobody that I have come across has looked at this from a psychological perspective. Yes, as a monarch her duty was to provide an heir, but the necessary actions to bring that about were psychologically beyond her, so she shut her eyes to it and projected the idea of being young forever. I think she is to be pitied and I personally admire her courage in living her life as she did.

[wandapease-giyo]

My vision of Elizabeth is very similar to that of Katherine Hepburn throughout her life. Hepburn was not classically beautiful at any time, but she had a constant flow of Charisma all her life. If not beautiful, Elizabeth had that about her that the sight and sound of her made those around her forget she was anything other than extraordinary, just as Ketherine did!

[chris.asi_romeo]

Tudor line ended with her. It's a good revenge to her father. Queen Elizabeth clearly hated her father by killing her mother Anne Boleyn. Imagine the pain young Elizabeth felt that her father execute her mother that's so traumatic. By not having an heir and ended the tudor line is her revenge.

[donaldauguston]

This was interesting but the sound was terribly uneven. DA

[stephanieking]

Useful general introduction. Great photography of the portraits mentioned in the video, well known historians commenting.
However, as a specialist of Elizabeth's portraiture and of 16th century symbolism, I regret a complete lack of even short allusions to very important symbols (the 'imperial' crown, the armillary sphere, the meaning of the left/right positions in symbolic images, the fact that some symbols also appear connected to Anne Boleyn).
I also regret the repetition of incorrect old tropes ('the weather' as the only reason for the victory over the Armada - please do check out what specialists of Philip II say about the fatal mistakes he insisted on making in his plan...and his refusal to listen to experienced military chiefs such as his nephew Parma.
Another trope is 'Elizabeth was negligent'. No she wasn't. She maintained the independence of her kingdom and kept her own power when any marriage would have taken both away. It is well known that she was very clear from even her childhood days, about her personal aversion to marriage. She said many things which would today be understood as evidence of asexuality. Following one's nature is not 'negligence'. It is the only thing one can do. historians should not pay lip service to prejudice.
As for the idea that she died 'without naming a successor'...Robert Cecil, who was at her death bed, would have contradicted this statement. A closer look at potential other successors (from the Grey sisters to Arabella Stuart) suggest that Elizabeth looked into their claims as well as into James's. Historian John Guy believes that Arabella could well have been an initially preferred choice, but her own actions were disappointing and ruled her out. Katherine Grey also disappointed Elizabeth, who had initially shown her favour by giving her a good position among her ladies.

[BeveCE]

Thank you, ladies. This video said so much about a queen who was strong and powerful and all too human. I may have seen every video produced about this queen, but you brought her back to life for us and the strength w which she ruled and how she used propagandized messages in which to depict herself and England, both, as a ruler. (Imho)She succeeded! ❤
succeeded. ❤

[lucybirot]

This is a very interesting subject for me but this presentation is marred by intrusive, overloud and rather frenetic music which makes listening to what the speakers have to say impossibly difficult in some cases (mumbling speech), and irritatingly difficult in others (speech clear but music interferring continuously). I am very disappointed. But thank you for the effort.

[jormar]

Very poor audio quality in some places.

[jumaris]

Great Documentary 😊👍👍 Love Elizabeth 1 ❤
but the audio of Dr. Nicola has somehow a very low quality sound, her voice resonates like talking to a tube ☺️

[cathryncampbell]

Thank you for an incisive video on the portraits of Elizabeth I. One wee suggestion: in future videos, perhaps you might dispense with background music. I had to turn the volume way up to hear the voices, as the music drowned them out. Nevertheless, this was a fascinating exploration of Renaissance 'propaganda.'

[jennifergriffiths]

By the time of Marcus Gits and Elizabeth I of her 50’s & 60’s … hadn’t she ordered all mirrors to be covered up because she didn’t like being reminded of her encroaching age and faded beauty … I don’t blame her … part of a strong confident woman’s aura of power is tied quite closely to her appearance…

Elizabeth I had lost her looks … how depressing for her to have to be reminded of her impending mortality … I think …had I been her … I would have ordered mirrors throughout my residences to be either removed & replaced by lovelier times’s portraits or just, at least, ordered mirrors covered up during my visits in
residency … having to face the boudoir’s mirror every morning had to be more than enough in later years !!!

What monumental challenges she faced as, still, a toddler and into her teens & adulthood before Mary died … I don’t think anyone was feeling very safe & secure due Mary’s reign … well … maybe Philip of Spain was feeling pretty safe … 🤷‍♀️who knows🤷‍♀️…

[SecretSquirrelFun]

Thank you so much for this fascinating video essay. I thoroughly enjoyed learning something from each and every portrait.

My only complaint is that the presenter said that Elizabeth was “reduced” to wearing wigs ( 29:50).

People wear wigs for all sorts of reasons - for fun, for pleasure, for medical reasons, or hair loss due to ageing etcetera.

🙂🐿❤️🌈

[sweetpea]

Only one piece of clothing though found as an altar cloth i believe. That's a shame her clothing was the epitome of Royal dress. Well at least in portraits.

[dl]

Whoever or whatever does the CC/subs for this program needs to learn that Henry the Eighth is Henry VIII, not VII.

[lovekeoni]

What a great video!! Would love more of these- portraits through reins 🖤

[katego]

Guys, can you boost the audio please? It's very quiet compared to most videos and films at my max volume.

[elisabethlee]

The portrait at 4:00 for Elizabeth's birth is actually Mary.