Elizabeth I

The Pelican Portrait is an oil painting of Elizabeth I of England on a wood panel, named for the pelican pendant shown on Elizabeth's breast. It is generally attributed to Nicholas Hilliard, on the basis of a scientific study and similarities to his other work. Dating from about 1575, for many generations the painting was at Charlton House, Wiltshire, in the possession of the Earls of Suffolk. In 1930 it was sold to E. Peter Jones, who later donated it to the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. Features The work was painted around 1575, when Queen Elizabeth was about forty-two. Its name comes from a rich jewel shown on her breast: a pendant in the form of a pelican in her piety. The female pelican was then believed to feed its young with blood from its own body, and the one in the pendant has its wings outstretched and is pecking its breast. This is taken as an allusion to Elizabeth as a self-sacrificing mother of the English nation, and the Queen was herself fond of the symbolism of the pelican. In the portrait Elizabeth is magnificently dressed and is wearing other elaborate jewellery. On her right upper arm is a decorated armlet. Her headdress and velvet gown are richly bejewelled, especially with large pearls, which are a symbol of chastity and link the Queen to Artemis, the goddess of the Moon and chastity in Greek mythology. Two cherries on her right ear may also allude to her as a virgin Queen. The fringe of a canopy above her head hints at a throne room. A Tudor rose celebrates her dynasty, while a fleur-de-lis asserts her claim to the throne of France. The Queen's partlet and sleeves are blackwork of Tudor roses, embroidered on white cloth in black thread.