A portrait of Queen Elizabeth I that is thought to be the earliest such piece that was commissioned to help the English monarch “advertise” herself to potential suitors was sold yesterday for the huge amount of 2.6 million pounds, or $5.3 million.
The life-sized painting was created by an artist from Antwerp, Steven van der Meulen, who later became an important English court painter.
Van der Meulen’s old painting was expected to fetch between 700,000 and one million pounds, according to auctioneer Sotheby, so the amount of 2.6 million pounds seems to have been incredible even for the auctioneers.
“Like her father, Henry VIII, she was incredibly conscious of how important her image was,” Emmeline Hallmark, the head of the Sotheby’s British painting department, said, adding also that “This painting is so pretty and decorative, and the symbolism alludes to the fact that she is in the ripeness of her life.” Emmeline Hallmark said that the painting is likely to have been made when Queen Elizabeth I was around 30 years old.
The painting that was sold for 2.6 million pounds is almost two meters tall and depicts the pale-skinned queen standing in a crimson satin dress adorned with colored gems and pearls.
Elizabeth had in her right hand a carnation, which Emmeline Hallmark said that could symbolize a future betrothal. In her left hand she had a glove, which symbols power and health.
The entire portrait was emphasizing her youthful appearance and that the depiction of fruit and scented flowers in the background reinforced her allure.

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