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| The Ditchley Portrait, 1592 |
- What symbolic references are within the portrait?
- Stood on England on a globe symbolising her power over the country, feet on Oxfordshire as that's where Lee was from.
- Gloves: elegance.
- Pearls: virginity.
- Fan: union, wealth.
- Jewelled celestial sphere hanging from her left ear: command over nature itself.
- Tudor rose: dynasty, unity of realm, religion.
- Weather in background: royal authority over nature.
- Writing on right: theme of forgiveness.
- What does the clothing say about the sitter? Identify his/her physical characteristics, age, and social class, influences and personality type
- Very wealthy.
- White satin = purity, peace.
- White silk puffing with pearls/rubies/sapphires set at intersections: wealth, beauty, virginity.
- Very slim, long, pointed bodice.Headdress is crown shaped: royalty.
- Jewels in headdress: wealth.
- Portrait done at an older age (59).
- Stern look, importance
- When you get back to Uni, research the background of this image.
- Weather is blue and sunny sky on the left, and black and stormy sky on the right: continues the theme of royal authority over nature.
- 'The three fragmentary Latin inscriptions can be interpreted as: (left) "She gives and does not expect"; (right) "She can but does not take revenge", and (bottom right) "In giving back she increases." The sonnet (right), perhaps composed by Lee, though fragmentary, can mostly be reconstructed. Its subject is the sun, symbol of the monarch.'
- Who is the sitter, why are they sitting for the portrait?
- Queen Elizabeth I, painted for Sir Henry Lee who had been the Queen's Champion from 1559-90
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