Who painted Queen Elizabeth?

Queen Elizabeth was painted by after Crispijn de Passe I after Isaac Oliver in 1601.

Where can I see Queen Elizabeth?

Queen Elizabeth is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Queen Elizabeth?

Queen Elizabeth is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Queen Elizabeth

after Crispijn de Passe I after Isaac Oliver , 1601

Queen Elizabeth is an ink print by the Renaissance artist after Crispijn de Passe I after Isaac Oliver. It dates from 1601 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work is a black‑and‑white engraving depicting a female portrait.

Inscription: Inscribed:Across bottom center: Elisabetha dei Gratia Angliae Franciae et Hiberniae Regina

About this work

Overview

The work is a black‑and‑white engraving depicting a female portrait. The sitter is shown from the shoulders up, wearing an elaborate lace‑patterned collar, a substantial pearl necklace, and a high coiffure adorned with curls and jewels. In her hands she holds a small cross, and an inscription beneath identifies her as "Queen of England, France, and Ireland."

Subject & Meaning

The portrait presents a monarch, emphasizing regal authority through luxurious attire and religious symbolism. The inclusion of the cross underscores the queen's piety, while the title asserts her claim to multiple thrones, reflecting the political reach and self‑presentation of the sovereign.

Technique & Style

Executed as an engraving, the image relies on incised lines and varying densities of shading to render texture and depth. Fine hatching creates the intricate lace collar and pearl detailing, while broader strokes suggest the volume of hair and the softness of the shoulders. The monochrome palette focuses attention on line work rather than color.

History & Provenance

The print is identified simply as an engraving of a queen, with no further data on its creator, date, or original ownership provided in the source material. Consequently, its provenance remains undocumented within the available information.

Context

Portrait engravings of royalty were common in early modern Europe, serving both as disseminated images of sovereigns and as affirmations of dynastic legitimacy. The inscription naming England, France, and Ireland aligns with the historical claims of English monarchs to those crowns.