The Virgin Queen

Unknown continental artist (likely Flemish). Queen Elizabeth I, “The Darnley Portrait”. 1575.  National Portrait Gallery, London

Principal causes of the Reformation were a culmination of centuries long outrage over papal abuse and corruption. Additionally a lack of morality, excess and greed of the clergy was scandalous. As European countries developed stronger governments a new nationalism emerged which the Pope wanted to stifle in order to maintain power of over the Monarchies and their subjects. The intellectual influence of Humanism shifted thought among intellectuals to a more individual point of view which Protestantism supported. The work of Luther was influenced by his humanist contemporaries and his criticism of the papacy and Catholicism in turn appealed to them. (Wadsworth, 323)

England was mired in religious strife it’s disconnection from Italy was political, religious and geographical. King VIII was motivated to Reformation for his own selfish desire to secure a male heir and to rebuke the control of the papacy. There  were no celebrated Italian Renaissance painters at English court to influence local artists. Portraiture, especially of the monarchy was of foremost fashion and importance. However, there was an emergence of literary and dramatic arts spurred on by the intellectuals of the late Renaissance, most notably Shakespeare. The introduction of the printing press not only increased literacy and study of the Bible but also the consumption of secular books. 

Unknown English artist.

Queen Elizabeth I. 1588.

National Portrait Gallery, London

Reformation in England, initiated by King Henry VIII proclaiming himself the Supreme Head of the Church of England, would eventually lead to the first two women ascending to the throne. Despite his attempts to designate Lady Jane Grey next Line, that only lasted 9 days before Mary 1, his only surviving child with Catherine of Aragon, a Catholic, ascended and married a short time later. After her death five years later, Elizabeth 1 ascended to the throne and ruled for nearly half a century what would later be known as the Elizabethan Period. During her reign she reinforced the Reformation but stayed away from the violent religious persecution favored by her Catholic predecessor. She also managed to rule without ever marrying and was called “The Virgin Queen”.

“During the course of her reign, Queen Elizabeth I became a public icon. Her likeness appeared on a large number of objects - from the coins in purses to large-scale painted portraits. These images were carefully designed and served as a tool to manipulate the public image of the queen” (The Queen’s Likeness: Portraits of Elizabeth I, 2019). One could argue that not only was she iconic for her representation of the Reformation but also as she was the singular subject for much of the art of this period. The irony is her fathers motive for Reformation ultimately enabled her reign but also the ended the House of Tudor since she never married or had a child. She remains one of the most fascinating political and religious figures of her time noteworthy both for her gender as well as her personal traits.

WORKS CITED 

Cunningham, Lawrence and John Reich, eds. Culture and Values: A Survey of the Humanities. Vol 2. Wadsworth, 2005.

“The Queen's Likeness: Portraits of Elizabeth I.” National Portrait Gallery, www.npg.org.uk/research/programmes/making-art-in-tudor-britain/case-studies/the-queens-likeness-portraits-of-elizabeth-i#darnleyportrait.