Begin to focus on the New Elizabethan project brief by discussing Elizabethan portraiture and symbolism...

 

Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I, standing between two columns holding an orb and sceptre; a copy after Crispin de Passe Engraving

 

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We were set a task by Sharron to begin to explore Elizabethan portraiture and symbolism, and we were asked to find a portrait of this time, that we engaged in. So here is mine, it's not necessarily a typical portrait you would expect to find from the Elizabethan era, but this image really caught my eye and portrays authority and importance. Elizabeth's body language in this picture tells me that she knows who she is and is very comfortable with her power. She is confident and sure of herself.  

 

Above is a picture of the famous Orb. "The Sovereign's Orb is a type of regalia known as a globus cruciger and is one of the British Crown Jewels" - (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign's_Orb).

 

"Regalia is Latin plurale tantum for the privileges and the insignia characteristic of a sovereign.

The word stems from the Latin substantivation of the adjective regalis, "regal", itself from Rex, "king". It is sometimes used in the singular, regale." - (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign's_Orb)

 



"The globus cruciger (Latin, "cross-bearing orb") is an orb (lat. globus) topped (lat. gerere = to wear) with a cross (lat. crux), a Christian symbol of authority used throughout the Middle Ages and even today on coins, iconography and royal regalia. It symbolises Christ's (the cross) dominion over the world (the orb), literally held in the dominion of an earthly ruler (or sometimes celestial being such as an angel). When held by Christ himself, the subject is known in the iconography of Western art as Salvator Mundi ("Saviour of the World"). It is associated with the sceptre." - (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globus_cruciger.)

I have to say, I am slightly confused as to where the Orb actually originates from, as after researching for some time I have come across several sites online that have different information and dates that don't match. I have added these links below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign's_Orb

http://www.historytoday.com/al-rowse/coronation-queen-Elizabeth