Analysis of a Portrait

The Ermine Portrait c.1585 is a famous portrait of Elizabeth I painted by Nicholas Hilliard. The particular portrait is a key portrait is an important one to look at as it features a lot of symbolism and indicates a lot to do wight he way Elizabeth portrayed herself to her people. 

The Ermine portrait features Elizabeth I, heavily clothed in black and gold with her hands visible. Atop of her sits a small white creature called an ermine and to the side sits a gold sword.

Key symbolism within the portrait 
- The Ermine. An Ermine featured in this portrait wears a miniature crown which suggests excess in wealth as Ermine with a white coat was a particularly rare breed to skin thus this resulted in the fur of the creature being incredibly expensive. 
It was also believed that Ermine were particularly proud animals and would rather die than to sully their white coat and in this portrait has been chosen to symbolise purity as Elizabeth herself was apparently a virgin queen.
- Bejewelled Black Costume The costume Elizabeth wear is a rich combination of black and gold embroidery. Black material was often associated with the elite and the addition of gold embroidery and jewels gives an overwhelming essence of wealth and standing.
- The Sword of State The way the sword of state lays just to the right of the Queen suggests she it on hand giving the impression that she's prepared to defend her country.

The symbolism used in this portrait work together to portray Elizabeth is a certain light. The use of the ermine for example represents her a pure being, with with high morals, perhaps even close to god. This representation would be intentionally so that her subjects would see her as a positive, force of good at the head of the country. 
Similarly the use of her luxurious clothing and the sword work by representing her as a powerful and wealthy monarch, something she would have wanted other nations to understand; was not a force to be reckoned with.