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A c. 1598 CE portrait of Elizabeth I of England (r. 1558-1603 CE). Attributed to Nicholas Hilliard (1547-1619) or his former apprentice Rowland Lockey (c.1566-1616). The queen was into her sixties at the time of this portrait and, though she has aged a little compared to earlier works, she still retains her 'Mask of Youth'.
Elizabeth stands with one hand on her throne which has her royal cipher, and she is wearing a small imperial crown. The queen's dress has embroidered flowers with a mixture of land and marine creatures that create a fantastical landscape, perhaps representing the queen's reign over many varied lands. As so often, the dress and elaborate lace collar are studded with pearls which symbolize purity. The queen holds a fan in one hand a pair of gloves in the other. In her pearl-adorned shoes, she is standing on a richly woven carpet.
Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire, England.