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Primary sourcePainting1585

The Ermine Portrait of Elizabeth I

George Gower or William Segar · 1585

A portrait of Elizabeth I with an ermine on her arm, symbolising purity and sovereignty, owned by the Cecil family.

A symbolic portrait of Elizabeth I owned by the Cecil family, showing her image among her closest advisers.

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Painting of a pale-faced woman with red-gold curled hair, wearing a jeweled crown, a large white lace ruff, and a black gown embroidered with gold spots and gold-and-jewel ornaments. She holds a sprig of greenery in her left hand and rests her right hand on a white ermine with a small gold crown. A gold-hilted sword lies at lower right, and a lattice window appears at the left.
Attributed to George Gower or William Segar, The Ermine Portrait of Elizabeth I, 1585. Marquess of Salisbury collection.

About this source

What it is

A portrait of Elizabeth I dated 1585, attributed to George Gower or William Segar, held in the Marquess of Salisbury collection. It is known as the Ermine Portrait.

Why it matters

The ermine resting on her arm, wearing its own small crown, was a traditional symbol of purity and royal authority. The portrait's ownership by the Cecil family, closely tied to Elizabeth's government through William Cecil, shows how her image circulated among her closest advisers. The sword at her side may allude to justice and royal power.

Look closer

  • Why might an animal like the ermine be chosen as a symbol for a queen?
  • What does the sword suggest about the message the portrait was meant to send?
  • Why would a leading courtier's family want to own such an image of the queen?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Elizabeth I on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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