We are very lucky that so many contemporary portraits of Elizabeth I have survived; however, that has made the task of compiling them all a challenge! Whilst this represents a large majority of the surviving images of Elizabeth, it is not complete. I will be adding to this collection over time, so check in regularly to see what portraits and depictions have been added.
The Family of Henry VIII by an unknown artist, c.1545. Elizabeth is the lady to the right within the room.
Detail of Elizabeth from the portrait above
Princess Elizabeth, attributed to William Scrots, c.1546-47
Princess Elizabeth by an unknown artist, c.1555
Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation Procession, illustration by an unknown artist, c.1559.
Frontispage to Compendiosa totius anatomie delineatio, ære exarata. Line engraving by Thomas Gemini, c.mid 16th century
Miniature by Levina Teerlinc, c.1560-65
Miniature by Levina Teerlinc, c.1560-65
Portrait by Unknown English artist, c.1560
Portrait by an unknown artist, c.1560s.
Portrait attributed to Steven van Meulen, c.1562
Queen Elizabeth I and three unknown councillors, woodcut by an unknown artist, c.1563
Elizabethan sixpence, c.1565
Lead medal by Steven van Herwijck, c.1565
The Gripsholm Portrait by an unknown artist, c.1563.
The Hampden Portrait, attributed to Gower or Van der Meulen, c.1567.
Queen Elizabeth riding the chariot of Fame, by Sir William Teshe, c.1570
The Chequers Ring by an unknown artist, c.1570s. One portrait is believed to be of Elizabeth’s mother, Anne Boleyn, with the other showing Elizabeth herself.
Miniature by Nicholas Hilliard, c.1572
Phoenix jewel by an unknown artist, c.1570-80
Allegory of the Tudor Succession, attributed to Lucas de Heere, c. 1572.
Cameo of onyx by an unknown artist, c.1570-1590
Cameo by an unknown artist, c.1575
The Essex Ring, supposedly the ring Elizabeth gave to her last favourite, Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex. She had told him that if he was ever in trouble, to send her the ring and she would save him. When he was sentenced to death for treason, he sent it to her, but it never reached her.
Queen Elizabeth Receiving Dutch Ambassadors, by an unknown artist, c.1570-75.
Miniature of Elizabeth, that matched one of Robert Dudley, by Nicholas Hilliard, c.1575
Sketch by Federico Zuccaro, c.1575
The Waddesdon Portrait attributed to Nicholas Hilliard, c. 1575.
Darnley portrait by an unknown European artist, c.1575
The Pelican Portrait attributed to Nicholas Hilliard, c. 1575.
Phoenix portrait by Nicholas Hilliard, c.1575
Lute miniature by Nicholas Hilliard, c.1576
Elizabeth Portrait Frontispiece from Saxton’s Atlas, c.1579
The Red Sieve Portrait, attributed to George Gower, c.1579.
The Wanstead Portrait by Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder, c.1580-85.
Portrait by an unknown artist, c.1580
Portrait by an unknown artist, c.1580s-1590s. Paint loss has revealed that this portrait has been painted over another earlier portrait of a lady, c.1570s judging by what can be seen of her headdress
Portrait attributed to George Gower, c.1580
Portrait after Zuccaro, c.1580
Queen Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, Dancing, by an unknown artist, c.1580s.
Miniature by Nicholas Hilliard, c.1586-87
Miniature by Nicholas Hilliard, c.1585
The Great Seal of Elizabeth I, engraving by Nicholas Hilliard, c.1586-1603 The inscription reads: Elizabetha dei gracia Anglie Francie et Hibernie Regina Fidei Defensor (‘Elizabeth, by grace of God, Queen of England, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith’). It depicts the queen in typically resplendent dress, flanked by the royal arms and Tudor roses.
Line engraving by an unknown artist, c.1587
Woodcut for the frontispiece to the 1588 edition of John Case’s Sphaera Civitatis. Elizabeth has her arms outstretched around a diagram of the Ptolemaic universe, within which planets represent the qualities of good government.
Armada Portrait by an unknown artist, c.1588
Elizabeth I and the Three Goddesses by Isaac Oliver, c.1588 “The subject is a reworking of the classical legend known as the ‘Judgement of Paris’, in which a golden apple is awarded by Paris to the fairest of the three goddesses, the outcome of which led to the Trojan War. Here, rather than repeat Paris’s folly, Elizabeth retains the golden orb for herself as she alone combines their separate virtues.” – NPG
Queen Elizabeth I with a Fan, by an unknown artist, c.1585-90
Portrait by an unknown artist, c.1585-90.
Elizabeth I in Parliament Robes, by an unknown artist c1585-90.
Preparatory sketch by Isaac Oliver, c.1590-92
The Ditchley portrait by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, c.1592
Portrait after Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, c.1592
Portrait after Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, c.1592
Portrait by workshop of Nicholas Hilliard, c.1592
Miniature by Nicholas Hilliard, c.1595-1600
Procession portrait, probably by Robert Peake, c.1600
The Rainbow Portrait attributed to Isaac Oliver, c.1600.
