In 1588, the English navy defeated the invincible Spanish Armada. To commemorate this monumental victory, Elizabeth I commissioned the famous Armada Portrait.
This is less a portrait and more a carefully designed piece of political propaganda. And the boldest “slogan” on this poster is the countless pearls she wears.
Why Pearls?
Elizabeth I was one of history’s most obsessive pearl collectors. In her later portraits, you can barely see her skin because every available inch is covered in massive natural pearls.
This obsession was not merely feminine vanity; it was a shrewd political strategy:
- Symbol of Chastity: Elizabeth remained unmarried, styling herself as the “Virgin Queen.” The white, flawless, round nature of pearls perfectly fit the image of an “Earthly Madonna” she tried to cultivate. In post-Reformation England, she successfully filled the void left by the Virgin Mary with her own iconography.
- Daughter of the Sea: Pearls are born from the sea. For leading an island nation dedicated to establishing maritime supremacy, wearing pearls was akin to wearing the ocean itself, symbolizing her absolute dominion over the seas.
Imperial Ambition
Another chilling detail in the painting is her right hand.
That ringed hand holds no fan or flower, as was traditional. Instead, it rests firmly on a globe. And if you look closely, her fingers are spread over the Americas.
It is an unapologetic declaration: England’s gaze has moved beyond Europe to the vast New World.
Conclusion
In The Armada Portrait, Elizabeth I is no longer a flesh-and-blood woman. She has transformed herself into a state icon built of pearls, gold, and silk.
Those pearls hanging from her neck and sewn into her gown are displays of power. They tell the world: this Queen possesses not only endless wealth but also purity and invincible strength protected by God.
