- Hardcover: 180 pages
- Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd; 2nd Revised edition edition (23 Feb 1987)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0500250987
- ISBN-13: 978-0500250983
- Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 16.7 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 758,967 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
To examine the portraits of Elizabeth I is, as Roy Strong shows, to witness the creation of the legend of the Virgin Queen, of Gloriana and her burgeoning empire. The history of the portraiture is that of the deliberate manufacture of an image powerful enough to hold together a people divided by not only a rigid social hierarchy but also religious belief. When Elizabeth came to the throne in 1558 her subjects had a vivid memory of defeat in war and of religious turmoil - the bloody reign of her half-sister Mary had only just ended. The policy of restoring the stability of the kingdom necessarily involved the image of the Queen: over the years she was to be transmuted from an elegant aristocratic lady into a cosmic vision depicted standing on her realm of England or, even more boldly, clasping the whole world in her hand. In view of the uncertainty over the succession her mortality had to be denied: she was therefore presented, in a political act of rejuvenation, as a young woman, even when in her sixties. The successful proliferation of the image may be measured by the love and devotion inspired by a monarch who in the later years of her reign has been described as 'aged, toothless, bald and irascible'. For two decades, from 1580 to 1600, that propaganda machine worked triumphantly, and it was only in the very last years that it began to fail.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
About the Author
Sir Roy Strong was educated at the University of London, and the Warburg Institute. He joined the staff of the National Portrait Gallery in 1959 and became its Director from 1967 to 1973. He was Director of the Victoria & Albert Museum from 1974 to 1987 when he resigned to become a full-time writer, broadcaster and consultant. His books include The Story of Britain and The Spirit of Britain, and most recently Feast (Jonathan Cape, 2002).
--This text refers to the
Paperback
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Roy Strong focuses here completely on the plenitude of portraits that were painted of Elizabeth and discusses their iconographical and cultural significance in a way which is both erudite and accessible.
The scale of Elizabeth's portraiture was unheard of in England since the time of the Roman emperors and this book explores why and how the images were made, and how they were made to have meaning for their contemporary audiences. The extended use of allegory (in the 'sieve', 'ermine' and 'rainbow' portraits, for example) is explained, and the way Elizabeth's image changed over the years of her reign (1558-1603) is explored.
Strong takes a very positive view of Elizabeth in this and his other books but that doesn't stop this being a fascinating read. Following an extended introductory chapter, this looks at all the extant portraits and explains the iconography and significance of them within their cultural and social contexts.
The scale of Elizabeth's portraiture was unheard of in England since the time of the Roman emperors and this book explores why and how the images were made, and how they were made to have meaning for their contemporary audiences. The extended use of allegory (in the 'sieve', 'ermine' and 'rainbow' portraits, for example) is explained, and the way Elizabeth's image changed over the years of her reign (1558-1603) is explored.
Strong takes a very positive view of Elizabeth in this and his other books but that doesn't stop this being a fascinating read. Following an extended introductory chapter, this looks at all the extant portraits and explains the iconography and significance of them within their cultural and social contexts.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Excellent pictures, but limited scope
18 Jan 2007
Format:Paperback
I really liked this book! I enjoy reading about and researching the Tudors (by researching, I mean reading existing research). I have a book "All the Queen's Men: Elizabeth and her Courtiers" by Neville Williams. I loved the reproductions of paintings in that book, and so tracked down "Gloriana" to see and compare as many pictures of Elizabeth as I could. I must say the pictures are great, and plentiful. The text is well written too. It describes the art and explains the purpose of and evolution of the stylised portraits of Elizabeth. It's not the book's fault, but it was missing some things I hoped to find, as follows: few pictures of those close to Elizabeth (I shouldn't probably have expected this, but I like to look for family resemblances, and the looks of her suitors!); little text description of Elizabeth (based on the author's reseach, I hoped he'd tell us whether her eyes were blue or brown, how tall she was etc. Hard to tell from the art - the colors and proportions vary); and finally, some portraits that are described in the text are not illustrated. Not many, but I wanted to see more. That being said, you can't go wrong with this book if you want to study the portraits. I am very pleased to have this as part of my little Tudor library! (My copy is paperback, I have not seen the hardback.)
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
All hail Gloriana! The Portraits of Queen Elizabeth
18 Feb 2009
Format:Paperback
Love this book. The scholarship. The comprehensive overview and chronology. Wish there were more in the color section, but hey, this book is a gift to anyone who wants to find out how the image of Elizabeth I evolved and why. You can just feel Her Majesty's strategy unveiled as you go along. All hail Gloriana!
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