Mary vs Elizabeth

The Pelican Portrait by N.Hilliard c.1575
http://tinyurl.com/34tyjv7

Portrait of Mary Queen of Scots by unknown artist c.1565
http://www.marileecody.com/maryqosimages.html

When you examine these two portraits of Elizabeth and Mary a number of differences spring to mind. For starters, I notice how vibrant and colourful the pelican portrait is. On the other hand, this portrait of Mary is so much darker, compared to Elizabeth her complexion looks quite ghostly especially accented by shadows of grey hue. 
Elizabeth is also heavily laden with jewels, the top half of her costume looks almost encrusted with them, suggested wealth and splendour. Marys outfit and surroundings are dominantly black with accents of white and gold which due suggest a sense of nobility however not to the extent this is done in the first portrait of Elizabeth. 
Finally, Mary's skin appears more contoured, her eyes are much more shadowed and appear more sunken in.

Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth I (Elizabeth: The Golden Age -2007 )
http://tinyurl.com/ntaydsu

Samantha Morton as Mary Stuart (Elizabeth: The Golden Age - 2007)
http://tinyurl.com/nws6hee

'Elizabeth: The Golden Age' is a 2007 film that depicts the latter stages of Elizabeth's reign as queen of England. Mary Stuart is featured heavily in this film, including her plot to kill the queen. Its interesting to look at this representations of these two historical figures. Their complexions are similar, very pale although Samantha Morton's appears even more so, practically glowing like in many of the portraits I've seen of Mary. I love how her complexion is set off against the scarlet petticoat she wears which I think very strikingly asserts her position as a martyr and also cleaverly gestures towards her imminent bloody demise.