Shield of Queen Elizabeth
1621
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1621
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white engraving of a fancy shield and crown. The shield has a lion on one side and a bunch of fleur-de-lis (flower-like shapes) on the other. Above it sits a crown with jewels, and two figures—one holding a scroll, the other a sword—stand on either side. Swirls and letters wrap around the edges, making it look like an official seal. The letters around the top say *"Honi soit qui mal y pense"*—that’s French for "Shame on him who thinks evil of it." It’s a motto still used today by a famous group. If you like this style, check out the technique: engraving.
![Shield of Queen Elizabeth [left half]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/f4b61579dbc6b41d/thumb.webp)
![Shield of James I [bottom half]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/ba628f9c8498bd19/thumb.webp)
