Tuesday, 14 October 2014

The Ditchley Portrait

Another portrait I looked at was the ‘Ditchley Portrait’ by Marcus Gheeraerts. This portrait is shown at the National Portrait Gallery in London, it shows Elizabeth I in a huge dress that is very beautiful. This painting could have lots of different meanings, she has a vast amount of pearls around her neck which could suggest her purity and virginity. In her hand she carries a folded fan and pair of gloves, gloves were said to suggest elegance in a painting and this may be what Elizabeth is trying to portray. The portrait shows Elizabeth standing on a globe of the world, this particular portrait was said to be for Sir Henry Lee who lived in Oxford, where the queen’s feet stand. The stormy sky and the sun peeking through could symbolise forgiveness.  
Image from 'The anatomy of fashion, dressing the body from the renaissance to today' by Susan J. Vincent. 

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