Queen Elizabeth I was fully aware of who she was as
a queen. She knew, for instance, that if she married she would no longer hold complete
rule over England. She also knew that as a woman, she had to make sure to
present herself very strongly or else the men of the country in high positions
would think she was an easy target to sway. She was very smart, Elizabeth was,
as she was able to distract and appease those who wished her to marry and have
children quite easily by pretending to do what they wished while not actually
giving in to their wishes.
That is not to say that she presented herself as a
man, which she did not. She purely established a concept that though she was given
“the body of a weak and feeble woman” yet she would always present herself as having
the “stomach and heart of a king”. (Tilbury Speech) She would always assure her
subjects that she was in no way weak when it came to their best interests or
the betterment of the country. Even in her Golden Speech she states “and to defend this Kingdome from
dishonour, dammage, tyrannie, and oppresion; But should I ascribe any of these
things vnto my selfe, or my sexly weaknesse, I were not worthy to lieu”. She
insisted on her love for them that would not be stopped by her weakness of
being a woman.
Artists depicted her in many paintings as someone
who does not look weak at all just for being a woman. In the Rainbow Portrait,
for instance, despite her being close to the end of her reign, she was never
painted as an old woman. She was forever youthful and beautiful. This gave
distinct power, I believe, because as one ages and the body grows weaker, the
power someone exerts becomes much less than it once would have been. By keeping
the Queen’s youthful appearance, she was able to hold on to power still. Also,
the symbols used in the portrait give her power. The rainbow in her hand and the
motto on the portrait saying “no rainbow without the sun” shows her as the sun.
Powerful, giving light and life to her people. The snake on her sleeve also
represents wisdom, an important trait for a ruler, especially a female one who
cunningly passed through her child-bearing years without marrying and
reproducing.
In the Ditchley portrait, I feel it shows exactly
how she presents herself as the “weak and feeble” woman while having so much
strength and power. With her white dress and pearls, she embodies her “Virgin
Queen” persona, which is also shown in the previous portrait. Feminine fan in
hand as well as ladylike gloves, she screams woman. Yet she is standing on top
of a map of England with the background having the sun chase away the dark stormy
clouds. This portrait strikes me as the embodiment of her strength, even if it
was painted by a man to show gratitude for her forgiveness.
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