The Pelican Portrait

The Pelican Portrait

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The Pelican Portrait was painted around 1575, by Nicholas Hilliard, when Queen Elizabeth I was about forty-two.

The portrait takes it’s name from the pelican pendant shown on Elizabeth’s brooch.

The pelican has its wings outstretched and is pecking its breast.

This represents self-sacrifice, as a pelican was said to draw blood from its own breast to feed its young.

It alludes to Elizabeth’s role as mother to the nation.

In the portrait Elizabeth is magnificently dressed, and is wearing elaborate jewellery.

On her right upper arm is a decorated armlet.
Her headdress and velvet gown are richly bejewelled, especially with large pearls, which are a symbol of chastity – and Elizabeth’s favourite gem.

Two cherries on Elizabeth’s right ear may also be symbolic to her as a virgin Queen.
The two cherries probably refer to her virginity – her ‘cherry’ remains intact.

A Tudor rose celebrates her dynasty, while a fleur-de-lis asserts her claim to the throne of France.

The Queen’s partlet and sleeves are a blackwork of Tudor roses, embroidered on white cloth in black thread.

Recent analysis has found that the current blue background is an under layer.
The painting would originally have had a dark reddish purple background.

For many generations the painting was at Charlton House, Wiltshire, in the possession of the Earls of Suffolk.

In 1930 it was sold to E. Peter Jones, who later donated it to the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool.