Visiting the National Portrait Galley was an amazing experience for me. Looking at all the different portraits really engaged me, in terms of thinking about all the symbols in the images, the way in which the sitter is posing and the story that the portrait is visually narrating. Mainly looking at Queen Elizabeth 1's pictures, there was one particular portrait that really caught my attention. This was the Ditchley Portrait.
This portrait visually engaged me the most as it has many symbolic references and it stood out the most to me. The sitter in this portrait is Queen Elizabeth 1 herself. It was painted by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger as oil on canvas in the year 1592.
The background of the portrait a dark sky, dark clouds with a little sunshine seeping through. This symbolizes forgiveness. Many people tried to go against the queen and some even betrayed her. However, she is known for her good heart and so does not take revenge.
The background also shows darkness behind her and sunshine in front of her. This could symbolize the fact that she on battles for her country and she leads a peaceful country with a bright future ahead. Her gorgeous white dress contrasts with the dark colors in the background and make her stand out.
She wears four long chains of pearls, that represent her purity and chastity. She holds a glove in her left hand and this symbolizes elegance. Her stance in the portrait also shows how elegant she was. Most of all Queen Elizabeth stands on the globe of the world. She particularly had her feet on Oxforshire, England. This symbolizes her success, power, wealth and strength. The fact that she is the Queen of England.
The background of the portrait a dark sky, dark clouds with a little sunshine seeping through. This symbolizes forgiveness. Many people tried to go against the queen and some even betrayed her. However, she is known for her good heart and so does not take revenge.
The background also shows darkness behind her and sunshine in front of her. This could symbolize the fact that she on battles for her country and she leads a peaceful country with a bright future ahead. Her gorgeous white dress contrasts with the dark colors in the background and make her stand out.
She wears four long chains of pearls, that represent her purity and chastity. She holds a glove in her left hand and this symbolizes elegance. Her stance in the portrait also shows how elegant she was. Most of all Queen Elizabeth stands on the globe of the world. She particularly had her feet on Oxforshire, England. This symbolizes her success, power, wealth and strength. The fact that she is the Queen of England.
Exploring around the gallery, I came across a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. I saw a major difference between the two portraits and just out of curiosity I wanted to compare these two portraits.
This is a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, painted by Pietro Annigoni in 1969.
I chose to compare these two portraits as they both have a dark background. The difference between these portraits is that Queen Elizabeth 1 is wearing a white dress that makes her stand out, however I feel that even though Queen Elizabeth is wearing a red cape, it definitely makes her stand out as it contrasts with the picture.
Red is also a color of monarchy. Another difference I wanted to point out is that even though this image is not as dramatic as the top one of Queen Elizabeth 1. this portrait this simple and sophisticated yet it still symbolizes power, success and strength of Queen Elizabeth II.
Her stance in this portrait is similar to that of Elizabeth I in the portrait above as it portrays elegance. This puts forward the point that simplicity can also portray power, so do portraits always have to have many symbols in them to prove that they are true?
I chose to compare these two portraits as they both have a dark background. The difference between these portraits is that Queen Elizabeth 1 is wearing a white dress that makes her stand out, however I feel that even though Queen Elizabeth is wearing a red cape, it definitely makes her stand out as it contrasts with the picture.
Red is also a color of monarchy. Another difference I wanted to point out is that even though this image is not as dramatic as the top one of Queen Elizabeth 1. this portrait this simple and sophisticated yet it still symbolizes power, success and strength of Queen Elizabeth II.
Her stance in this portrait is similar to that of Elizabeth I in the portrait above as it portrays elegance. This puts forward the point that simplicity can also portray power, so do portraits always have to have many symbols in them to prove that they are true?
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