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Gloriana: Elizabeth I and the Art of Queenship
a Reformation kingdom ill-used to queens, Elizabeth I needed a very particular image to hold her divided country together. The ‘Cult of Gloriana’ would elevate the queen to the status of a virgin goddess, aided by authors, musicians, and artists such as Spenser, Shakespeare, Hilliard, Tallis and Byrd. Her image was widely owned and distributed, thanks to the expansion of printing, and the English came to surpass their European counterparts in miniature painting, allowing courtiers to carry a likeness of their sovereign close to their hearts.
Sumptuously illustrated, Gloriana: Elizabeth I and the Art of Queenship tells the story of Elizabethan art as a powerful device for royal magnificence and propaganda, illuminating several key artworks of Elizabeth’s reign to create a portrait of the Tudor monarch as she has never been seen before.
Sumptuously illustrated, Gloriana: Elizabeth I and the Art of Queenship tells the story of Elizabethan art as a powerful device for royal magnificence and propaganda, illuminating several key artworks of Elizabeth’s reign to create a portrait of the Tudor monarch as she has never been seen before.
232 pages, Hardcover
Published June 16, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 5, 2022
This book is the first one I've read of this type, looking at the Elizabethan age through portraiture, including the more famous Coronation, Rainbow, and Armada portraits, and the lesser known Pelican and miniature portraits. Also includes portraits of people of the Elizabethan age like Walter Raleigh, William Shakespeare, and Robert Dudley.
It is divided into digestible sections covering different parts of Elizabeth's life and reign, in largely chronological order, though with dives in and out of the lives of Elizabeth's courtiers and favourites. There are lots of implications raised about the portraits, and what little things you might overlook could mean, whether it's a gift from a courtier trying to curry favour through jewels, or the symbolism of a flower, hourglass, or animal that appears.
It's not a biography of Elizabeth I but an art history, looking at the life and reign of Elizabeth through the portraiture. It clearly links the portraits to different parts of her life and reign, giving the context of how the portraits link to different periods of her life, and how the imagery changes over her life.
A must-have for any fans or academics of the Elizabethan era because it looks at the age from a new perspective and can offer plenty of insights into self-fashioning, image, and power. It was utterly fascinating and so well-researched.
It is divided into digestible sections covering different parts of Elizabeth's life and reign, in largely chronological order, though with dives in and out of the lives of Elizabeth's courtiers and favourites. There are lots of implications raised about the portraits, and what little things you might overlook could mean, whether it's a gift from a courtier trying to curry favour through jewels, or the symbolism of a flower, hourglass, or animal that appears.
It's not a biography of Elizabeth I but an art history, looking at the life and reign of Elizabeth through the portraiture. It clearly links the portraits to different parts of her life and reign, giving the context of how the portraits link to different periods of her life, and how the imagery changes over her life.
A must-have for any fans or academics of the Elizabethan era because it looks at the age from a new perspective and can offer plenty of insights into self-fashioning, image, and power. It was utterly fascinating and so well-researched.
June 6, 2022
This book is an absolute must-have for any fans of the Elizabethan Era.
Beautifully constructed, the authors take us through some of the most famous and important pieces of artwork relating to Elizabeth I and how the creation of such pieces were used to add to the majesty surrounding her public image.
I found it utterly fascinating with the connections between the Queen and the patrons of the portraits such as hidden items or symbols to raise their status at court.
The book is incredibly well researched with engaging chapters and although not a biography of Elizabeth I, I did find it really effective that the chapters were laid out alongside her life, thus representing the more opulent and extravagant paintings as Elizabeth's reign progressed.
This is art history written at its finest and I heartily recommend those interested in Elizabeth I and the Tudors to add this to their collection.
Thank you so very much to @thehistorypressuk for sending me a copy of this book to review!
Beautifully constructed, the authors take us through some of the most famous and important pieces of artwork relating to Elizabeth I and how the creation of such pieces were used to add to the majesty surrounding her public image.
I found it utterly fascinating with the connections between the Queen and the patrons of the portraits such as hidden items or symbols to raise their status at court.
The book is incredibly well researched with engaging chapters and although not a biography of Elizabeth I, I did find it really effective that the chapters were laid out alongside her life, thus representing the more opulent and extravagant paintings as Elizabeth's reign progressed.
This is art history written at its finest and I heartily recommend those interested in Elizabeth I and the Tudors to add this to their collection.
Thank you so very much to @thehistorypressuk for sending me a copy of this book to review!
January 9, 2023
A queen locked in a struggle of being a single woman and the sole ruler of her kingdom must create the image that would help lead her divided country to a golden age. This image must comfort her people while showing strength and perseverance to her enemies who would try to take the throne from her. Elizabeth I worked hard with artists, poets, playwrights, and musicians to create the almost mythological image of “Gloriana,” the virgin goddess. Linda Collins and Siobhan Clarke explore how this image was created throughout Elizabeth’s reign in their latest book, “Gloriana: Elizabeth I and the Art of Queenship.”
When you first see the title of this book, you would assume that it will be yet another biography with art sprinkled in. You would be wrong. This book focuses solely on the different forms of artwork that built the Gloriana persona over the decades of Elizabeth I’s reign and how we perceive the pieces of art centuries later. Each section of this book discusses a particular aspect of Elizabeth’s reign while examining how art changed with a different artist or courtier highlighted, alongside portraits and miniatures thoroughly inspected for the symbolism hidden in plain sight.
I love examining Tudor-era artwork on my own to try and crack the code behind the symbols they chose to use, especially Elizabethan portraits, particularly The Rainbow Portrait. Collins and Clarke’s examination of the symbolism in each portrait and miniature, including dendrochronology to determine when paintings might have been painted, was captivating and enlightening. It reminded me of a history class I took in college about art history, which I have fond memories of learning about how art changed up to the Renaissance. I found it equally fascinating that they chose to highlight the life of Nicholas Hilliard, who does not get enough attention as a Tudor artist compared to Hans Holbein the Younger.
However, Collins and Clarke examine more than just the typical portraits, paintings, and miniatures. The myth of Gloriana would not have survived without poets, musicians, and playwrights, like Edmund Spenser, Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, and William Shakespeare. It was a multi-faceted effort to promote the Elizabethan propaganda that allowed Elizabeth not only to survive but for England to thrive.
“Gloriana: Elizabeth I and the Art of Queenship” by Linda Collins and Siobhan Clarke is a delightful book for any Tudor or art nerd in your life; informative, educational, and easy to read. Each page will give you a better understanding of Elizabeth I’s reign, her propaganda, and the myth of Gloriana.
When you first see the title of this book, you would assume that it will be yet another biography with art sprinkled in. You would be wrong. This book focuses solely on the different forms of artwork that built the Gloriana persona over the decades of Elizabeth I’s reign and how we perceive the pieces of art centuries later. Each section of this book discusses a particular aspect of Elizabeth’s reign while examining how art changed with a different artist or courtier highlighted, alongside portraits and miniatures thoroughly inspected for the symbolism hidden in plain sight.
I love examining Tudor-era artwork on my own to try and crack the code behind the symbols they chose to use, especially Elizabethan portraits, particularly The Rainbow Portrait. Collins and Clarke’s examination of the symbolism in each portrait and miniature, including dendrochronology to determine when paintings might have been painted, was captivating and enlightening. It reminded me of a history class I took in college about art history, which I have fond memories of learning about how art changed up to the Renaissance. I found it equally fascinating that they chose to highlight the life of Nicholas Hilliard, who does not get enough attention as a Tudor artist compared to Hans Holbein the Younger.
However, Collins and Clarke examine more than just the typical portraits, paintings, and miniatures. The myth of Gloriana would not have survived without poets, musicians, and playwrights, like Edmund Spenser, Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, and William Shakespeare. It was a multi-faceted effort to promote the Elizabethan propaganda that allowed Elizabeth not only to survive but for England to thrive.
“Gloriana: Elizabeth I and the Art of Queenship” by Linda Collins and Siobhan Clarke is a delightful book for any Tudor or art nerd in your life; informative, educational, and easy to read. Each page will give you a better understanding of Elizabeth I’s reign, her propaganda, and the myth of Gloriana.
July 19, 2022
I am very thankful to @thehistorypressuk for sending me a review copy for this brilliant book!
A must have book for every historian. It is an art-historical book, written neatly and delicately. While reading this book, I realized that I knew or did not know most of the information. However, this book has helped me to make up for my missing parts. This book is seriously well written!
This book explains to the reader why Elizabeth's reign is frequently referred to as "a golden age" and how appearance was everything. As Clarke and Collins rightly noted, a monarch's legacy persisted beyond their passing, just as Elizabeth's has.
The depth to which Tudor portraiture and its significance are examined demonstrates the authors' knowledge of the history of art. I had never given portraits, which I have seen numerous times, much thought until I read this book.
I was familiar with almost most of the portraits in this book because I had an article about it.
But let me warn you it’s not a biography book, however, this book looks at it from an art history perspective. In other words, he looks at the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth through the portraits.
A must have book for every historian. It is an art-historical book, written neatly and delicately. While reading this book, I realized that I knew or did not know most of the information. However, this book has helped me to make up for my missing parts. This book is seriously well written!
This book explains to the reader why Elizabeth's reign is frequently referred to as "a golden age" and how appearance was everything. As Clarke and Collins rightly noted, a monarch's legacy persisted beyond their passing, just as Elizabeth's has.
The depth to which Tudor portraiture and its significance are examined demonstrates the authors' knowledge of the history of art. I had never given portraits, which I have seen numerous times, much thought until I read this book.
I was familiar with almost most of the portraits in this book because I had an article about it.
But let me warn you it’s not a biography book, however, this book looks at it from an art history perspective. In other words, he looks at the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth through the portraits.
June 30, 2022
I've just finished "Gloriana - Elizabeth I & The Art Of Queenship" by Siobhan Clarke and Linda Collins and it was one of the best surprises I had lately! 🥰📚
The book is not a classical biography of queen Elizabeth I, but it presents the artworks/ portraits (of the queen or of other important people around her) or paintings that were made through her reign, telling us how these works were made to contribute to the queen's image as "Gloriana". It was very informative, because I could find out many details about how these famous portraits or artworks were made and by whom they were made, some hiden (or not) meanings of details that apear in them and so many other interesting information. The paragraphs that treat each painting alternates with short capthers from Elizabeth's life and reign, so that the readers could understand better the time or the context in which the artworks were made.
For me, it was a good read and I would recommend it to all those who love the Elizabethan era.
Thankyou to The History Press UK for sending me a copy to review.
The book is not a classical biography of queen Elizabeth I, but it presents the artworks/ portraits (of the queen or of other important people around her) or paintings that were made through her reign, telling us how these works were made to contribute to the queen's image as "Gloriana". It was very informative, because I could find out many details about how these famous portraits or artworks were made and by whom they were made, some hiden (or not) meanings of details that apear in them and so many other interesting information. The paragraphs that treat each painting alternates with short capthers from Elizabeth's life and reign, so that the readers could understand better the time or the context in which the artworks were made.
For me, it was a good read and I would recommend it to all those who love the Elizabethan era.
Thankyou to The History Press UK for sending me a copy to review.
June 26, 2022
Wonderfully written, Linda Collins and Siobhan Clarke steer us through the most famous and important pieces of artwork relating to Queen Elizabeth I and how their creation was used to add to the enigmatic magic surrounding her public image.
This book is well researched with engaging chapters that show, with the progress of Elizabeth’s reign, that portraits of the English monarch became more opulent and extravagant.
An absolute delight for fans of the Elizabethan Era.
Thank you to The History Press for sending me a copy of this book to review.
This book is well researched with engaging chapters that show, with the progress of Elizabeth’s reign, that portraits of the English monarch became more opulent and extravagant.
An absolute delight for fans of the Elizabethan Era.
Thank you to The History Press for sending me a copy of this book to review.
June 11, 2023
Thesis reading. I enjoyed this book but it could've had some more (any) footnotes to make all the claims stronger for the reader. Is Sir Walter Raleigh regarded fondly in American history? I am not sure.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews