Hi all. I wonder how much, if any, of the various motifs came from emblem
books. Any thoughts, all you Elizabethanophiles?

Arlys

On Sat, 1 Sep 2007 17:41:41 -0500 "otsisto" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
> >From this site
> http://www.marileecody.com/eliz1-images.html
> 
> Elizabeth's gown is embroidered with English wildflowers, thus 
> allowing the
> queen to pose in the guise of Astraea, the virginal heroine of 
> classical
> literature.  Her cloak is decorated with eyes and ears, implying 
> that she
> sees and hears all.  Her headdress is an incredible design decorated
> lavishly with pearls and rubies and supports her royal crown.  The 
> pearls
> symbolize her virginity; the crown, of course, symbolizes her 
> royalty.
> Pearls also adorn the transparent veil which hangs over her 
> shoulders.
> Above her crown is a crescent-shaped jewel which alludes to Cynthia, 
> the
> goddess of the moon. (De: Most say Diana)
> 
> A jeweled serpent is entwined along her left arm, and holds from its 
> mouth a
> heart-shaped ruby.  Above its head is a celestial sphere.  The 
> serpent
> symbolizes wisdom; it has captured the ruby, which in turn 
> symbolizes the
> queen's heart.  In other words, the queen's passions are controlled 
> by her
> wisdom.  The celestial sphere echoes this theme; it symbolizes 
> wisdom and
> the queen's royal command over nature.
> 
> Elizabeth's right hand holds a rainbow with the Latin inscription 
> 'Non sine
> sole iris' ('No rainbow without the sun').  The rainbow symbolizes 
> peace,
> and the inscription reminds viewers that only the queen's wisdom can 
> ensure
> peace and prosperity.
> 
> Elizabeth was in her late sixties when this portrait was made, but 
> for
> iconographic purposes she is portrayed as young and beautiful, more 
> than
> mortal.  In this portrait, she is ageless.
> 
> De
> -----Original Message-----
> 
> Note also that this is not intended to show a "real" outfit: while
> elements of it may actually have existed, the Queen is shown here as
> if she was costumed for a masque. The "eyes and ears" mantle is not
> the sort of thing that would be worn on any other occasion, I think. 
> :)
> 
> ____________________________________________________________
> 
> O    Chris Laning <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> - Davis, California
> +     http://paternoster-row.org - http://paternosters.blogspot.com
> ____________________________________________________________
> 
> 
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