Today we are doing another Tudor portraits and propaganda, and exploring one of the most captivating masterpieces of the Elizabethan era — the Pelican Portrait of Queen Elizabeth. This is a remarkable piece of art. It currently lives in the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool and it is a testament to the grandeur and complexity of Elizabethan England and all of the propaganda that Elizabeth was such a master of using.
It’s named for the distinctive Pelican pendant that Elizabeth is wearing symbolizing self-sacrifice and maternal care. This portrait is much more than a mere depiction. It is a mix of symbols and meanings that reflect the heart of Elizabeth’s reign. This portrait was painted around 1575 by Nicholas Hilliard, who of course was a famous portrait painter in Elizabeth’s c.ourt
He was born around 1547. He was not just an artist but also a goldsmith by training. His unique style blended the meticulous detail of a jeweler with the grandeur of Tudor court. It’s one reason why he was so good at painting miniatures. He captured the essence of the era in each brush stroke. Even though he was renowned for his miniatures, he also excelled in larger portraits like this one where his skill in portraying regal splendor and intricate symbolism truly shines.
So this was a time when Elizabeth who was around 42 was well established on her throne, like I said 1575, yet she was still navigating some complexities of her reign. Of course, her reign was marked by religious and political challenges. With Elizabeth skillfully steering England through the tumultuous waters of the Protestant Reformation and maintaining a delicate balance of power in Europe, the creation of the Pelican portrait during this period is particularly significant.
It wasn’t just a royal commission. It was a political statement, a testament to Elizabeth’s resilience and her role as a benevolent almost divine leader of her nation. The portrait is rich in symbolism and regal bearing, reinforces her image as a powerful yet caring monarch akin to a mother nurturing her children and of course, her children were the English people.
It was originally in Charlton house in Wiltshire. The portrait was a part of the collection of the Earls of Suffolk, of course a prominent noble family of the time. Its presence there speaks volumes about the prestige and reverence held for Elizabeth and her image.
The Journey of this masterpiece from the halls of Charlton House to its current home in the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, mirrors the enduring legacy of Elizabeth’s reign. By the time that the portrait reached the art gallery in 1945 donated by E, Peter Jones, it had become not just an artifact of the past but a beacon of Elizabethan history offering viewers a window into an era of intrigue, power, and unparalleled royal splendor.
The Pelican portrait is a labyrinth of symbols, each unfolding layers of Elizabeth’s identity and the perceptions she inspired as a monarch. Central to this, is the Pelican pendant, an emblem laden with deep meaning in Elizabethan symbolism. The pelican was revered for its maternal self-sacrifice believed to feed its young with its own blood. This emblem resonates with the portrayal of Elizabeth as the selfless mother of the nation, nurturing and protecting her subjects with a similar devotion.
Equally symbolic are the pearls that Elizabeth is wearing. Shimmering with the glow of chastity, these pearls represented the Virgin Queen in a time when a monarch’s virtue was as significant as their lineage. These pearls were not just ornaments, but declarations of Elizabeth’s purity and moral fortitude.
This is right at the height of her affair with Dudley, when Robert Dudley was getting ready to woo her for that two-week holiday at Kenilworth and wearing these also alongside with the two cherries near her ear, reinforce her status as the Virgin Queen. She’s saying I’m not getting married. I’m not having an affair with Dudley. I’m not secretly married, none of that. I am the Virgin Queen and I am the mother to the nation.
The Tudor Rose and the fleur-de-lis within the portrait, carry their own weight in symbolism. The rose celebrates her dynasty, the unification of York and Lancaster. While the fleur-de-lis asserts her ancestral claim to the throne of France, a subtle nod to England’s historical ambitions.
Above everything, a fringed canopy subtly suggests a throne room, placing Elizabeth not just in a space of regal Authority but also within a realm of divine right and celestial mandate. These symbols collectively weave a narrative of power, purity, and providence epitomizing the complex and multifaceted nature of Elizabeth’s reign.
Hilliard’s style was characterized by intricate detail and a rich pallet and brought in almost ethereal quality to Elizabeth’s portrayal. Unlike his renowned miniatures which are marvels of precision, larger canvas allowed Hilliard to lavish attention on a grander scale of opulence and symbolism. Hillard’s skill in balancing realism with symbolism sets the Pelican Portrait apart from his miniatures. While the Miniatures focus on intimate details and facial expression, this portrait encapsulates the grandeur of Elizabeth’s reign, her royal majesty and the symbolic depth of her public image.
In this, Hilliard transcends the boundaries of traditional portraiture, creating a piece that is as much a political statement as it is an artistic masterpiece. So the prominence of the painting starts with a story from the Howard family which claimed that the portrait was a personal gift from Elizabeth herself. This narrative adds a romantic hue to the prominence but there’s a lack of concrete evidence that lends an air of mystery to its origins.
By 1945 it was donated to the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. It had been in the possession of the Earls of Suffolk, a lineage steeped in nobility and close to the Tudor court. So there we have it the Pelican Portrait is not just a visual feast, it’s a historical document that played a pivotal role in shaping the public image of Elizabeth.
In this masterpiece, Nicholas Hillard masterfully blended realism with rich symbolism creating a portrait that was more than a likeness, it was a narrative. This portrait encapsulated Elizabeth’s persona as the Virgin Queen, a wise ruler, and a maternal figure to her nation, embedding these roles in the public consciousness. Hilliard’s work, especially this portrait, mirrors the Elizabethan era’s complexities, its Intrigue, its opulence, and its political subtleties.
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Heather Teysko is the creator, writer, and producer of The Renaissance English History Podcast, one of the longest running indie history podcasts, going since 2009. She's been writing about history online for over 25 years, since her first site on Colonial American history became number one in history on Yahoo in 1998. She writes books, created the original Tudor Planner (a yearly diary filled with Tudor history) and in 2019 created the world's first Tudorcon (you can "attend" online this year!). She has been passionate about Tudor England since she first read Alison Weir's The Six Wives of Henry VIII 20 years ago, and subsequently moved to London after college to spend her time immersed in Tudor history.