The changing faces of Elizabeth I

I went to see a new exhibition yesterday that has opened this week in the Tudor room of the National Portrait Gallery called Concealed and revealed-the Changing faces of Elizabeth I.


A series of four paintings of Elizabeth that have been altered in some way from their original creation are on display and are painted at various times in her life from 1560's until her death in 1603.


An X-ray of one painting shows that Elizabeth was not the original sitter, a clear image of another face, behind and slightly higher can be seen. One painting was retouched in the 18th Century, it shows a very beautiful Elizabeth, younger too.


The highlight is the painting by an unknown artist that has not been seen by the public since 1921. It shows Elizabeth holding a serpent coiled around her right hand. It's a ghostly image as the painting has deteriorated which it was why it was removed from public display. The over painting shows Elizabeth holding a posy of Tudor roses but hidden underneath and before the varnish was applied is the serpent. A reconstruction of the serpent is placed alongside the painting to show what the original would have looked like.


Serpents held many meanings and symbolism in Tudor times. The image of Elizabeth was tightly controlled and the artist was probaly told by the controllers that it was too ambiguous for the population at the time so it was painted over. A case of Tudor spin doctors having their say.



The exhibition will run until September 26, is well worth a visit and admission is free.





http://www.tudorhistorytours.com/