Artwork
Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Thomas de Leu. It dates from 1589 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Thomas de Leu, a Flemish‑born engraver who worked in France, issued an engraved portrait titled *Queen Elizabeth* in 1589. The print presents a monochrome likeness of the English monarch framed within a circular border, her hair rendered in curls and a radiating halo of light behind her head.
Subject & Meaning
The image celebrates Elizabeth I as a sovereign embodying authority and peace, as expressed in the surrounding French inscription that praises her rule. The inclusion of two hands supporting the oval portrait underscores the reverence afforded to the queen in the context of late‑Renaissance political symbolism.
Technique & Style
Executed by engraving, the work relies on incised lines on a copper plate, producing fine detail in the facial features and hair while allowing stark contrasts of light and shadow. The composition follows a conventional, somewhat archaic portrait format, with a circular frame and decorative text that reflects contemporary French print conventions.
History & Provenance
Created during a period of active cultural exchange between France and England, the print would have circulated among collectors and patrons interested in royal iconography. De Leu, also a publisher and dealer, likely distributed the image through his network of print shops, contributing to the broader dissemination of Elizabeth’s likeness across Europe.
Context
The portrait emerges at a time when portrait prints served diplomatic and propagandistic purposes, reinforcing alliances and projecting monarchical power. Its French language and stylistic choices illustrate how French artisans engaged with English subjects, mirroring the intertwined political and artistic currents of the late sixteenth century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Thomas de Leu or Leeuw or Le Leup or Deleu (1560–1612) was a French engraver, publisher, and print dealer of Flemish origin.
