Thinking through History at Tallis http://historyattallis.weebly.com https://www.facebook.com/historyGCSEattallis Email: historyattallis@gmail.com Key Topic 1. Queen, government and religion, 1558–69 This portrait was probably painted just after Elizabeth's...
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Thinking through History at Tallis http://historyattallis.weebly.com https://www.facebook.com/historyGCSEattallis Email: historyattallis@gmail.com Key Topic 1. Queen, government and religion, 1558–69 This portrait was probably painted just after Elizabeth's accession. It has a formulaic quality that suggests it was not painted from the life. It was probably one of many versions executed to fulfil a demand for the queen's likeness in the early years of her reign when she was still expected to enter into marriage and before she became associated with the more complex emblems of virginity that are often found in later portraits. Recent technical analysis has shown that the background was originally a vibrant shade of blue which has discoloured to a yellowish brown over time. This is due to the presence of an unstable blue pigment called 'smalt'. The inscription 'ELIZABETH REGINA' would therefore have originally stood out more clearly against the background. The Queen's features have been
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