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Queen Elizabeth

Thomas de Leu

1589

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Portrait

Dominant colour

Queen Elizabeth is a 1589 ink by Thomas de Leu, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Thomas de Leu
When & what style?: 1589 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of a woman’s face inside a circular frame. Her hair is styled in curls, and rays of light fan out behind her head. Around the edge, text in French curves around the image, and two hands hold up the oval shape. The words praise her as a queen holding power and peace. The artist signed it in the corner, and the style looks old-fashioned. If you like this, check out the technique: engraving.