Conclusions

Queen Victoria’s role differs greatly from that of Queen Elizabeth I, as she performed a juggling act between her responsibilities as a mother, a Queen, and a wife. She carefully portrayed herself to the public so that her feminine attributes and duties did not cross over into her image as a strong and competent ruler. The blue sash she wears in the portrait is a symbol of the Order of The Garter, which is one of the highest honors in British history. It was founded by King Edward III out of inspiration from King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. This presents Victoria as honorable and deserving of her authority because it frames her as a knight of Great Britain. Simultaneously, her feminine qualities shine through in her slope-shouldered dress that create an image of a weak upper body and a butterfly-like figure that is further accentuated by her large skirt. Moreover, the anecdotal story in which the portrait is reenacting is important to note because of its religious implications that persist over time. The story claims that when asked by the ambassador from East Asia what England’s secret to greatness is, she responds by handing over a Bible to imply that God has granted England with its successes. The hand she is shown handing over the Bible with also presents a pearl bracelet with an image of her husband Prince Albert. It is unknown if this image was painted before or after his death, but it may serve as a symbol of mourning and remembrance of her husband. Pearls were often used in mourning jewelry, most likely due to their connotations with rebirth. In this image of Victoria, we see different areas of symbolism as opposed to that of Queen Elizabeth I because of their differing social positions.