What did Elizabeth I really look like? Portrait Analysis & Facial Reconstructions
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 มี.ค. 2024
- What did Elizabeth I really look like? Today we’re going to dive into her portraits and contemporary descriptions to reconstruct the face of Elizabeth Tudor.
There are dozens if not hundreds of images of Queen Elizabeth that you can see today. But they all look just a little different. Which is the most accurate - which reveals the true Elizabeth?
Elizabeth was in a unique situation. As a female monarch, it was crucial that she did not let one single crack of her personal vulnerability show. Remember, portraits at this time were more about power and image than about faithfully rendering a subject. Her portraits show Elizabeth in beautiful clothing, absolutely surrounded by wealth and splendor. She’s depicted as youthful and thin, even through her old age.
It was remarked more than once that Elizabeth could be a vain woman. Even outside of personal vanity and the desire to appear beautiful to her subjects, her image was to reflect the evergreen power that England was.
One of Elizabeth’s approved portrait painters was Nicholas Hilliard. He remarked that Elizabeth was very picky about which images were approved. Much the way we take selfies with good lighting today, Elizabeth insisted that she be painted while sitting in the open light, so that no shadows would come across her face. This explains why many portraits of her look a bit flat, and lack the depth of light and shadow. Hilliard would have also been asked to brush away freckles, dark circles, wrinkles, or any other skin imperfections.
We only have a few portraits of a very young Elizabeth. Even this famous portrait of her coronation wasn’t painted until after her death.
A few that I find very accurate looking are those from her early years as Queen. Elizabeth was never described as a great beauty, something that she was keenly aware of, but her portraits have a very noble quality.
Elizabeth got her beautiful red gold hair from her father’s side, but I love that she got the dark eyes of her mother.
The features that are consistent across her portraits are a thin, graceful frame, a nose with a hook in the middle, rather small lips, and a high forehead. It appears that her hair was naturally curly or wavy - sometimes the styling of her wigs makes this difficult to tell. She probably had some freckles, although these likely wouldn’t be shown in her portraits.
I also see a lot of similarities in face and nose shape to Anne Boleyn - assuming this portrait of Anne is somewhat accurate.
Also like her mother, Elizabeth had a kind of charm that was difficult to measure in a portrait. It was said that she was incredibly witty and charming in person. Sir Robert Cecil, once wrote, “Many painters have done portraits of the Queen but none has sufficiently shown her looks or charms. Her Majesty forbids the showing of any portraits which are ugly until they are improved.”
As Elizabeth aged, she became more and more self conscious. A severe case of smallpox in her late twenties left her with facial scarring.
She remedied this by using a common makeup product at the time, called Venetian Ceruse. We know now that this is a toxic mix of vinegar and lead.
However, the makeup wasn’t quite a cakey as we think of it today. It was more of a medium-coverage white makeup that would blend with the skin, not so much a layer of paint.
Near the end of her life, we know she had bad teeth and was partially bald. She took great pains to conceal these perceived weaknesses under heavy cosmetics and wigs.
One of the last portraits of Elizabeth that can really be trusted is called The Darnley Portrait. Painted around 1575, this image shows Elizabeth at the approximate age of 41.
She loved this portrait so much that she approved its use as a pattern for the rest of her life, essentially asking artists to copy and paste this exact same face from that point forward. This face was reproduced over and over, with the clothing and other styling swapped to match the occasion and fashion moment.
For my interpretation of Queen Elizabeth, I’ve used one of my favorites, painted in the 1560s. This was painted by an unidentified painter shortly after she had ascended the throne and was in private hands for a long time. It was probably circulated as an image of Elizabeth for a potential marriage alliance. To me, this one has the most detail out of all her images. This one is pre-smallpox.
I have two different versions of this, one that is faithful to the portrait and the other that shows her face from a different angle. I feel like we constantly see Elizabeth’s face from this single angle, so I wanted to try something new.
I also have a modern day version created from the Darnley portrait.
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I love that the modern version has her in a turtleneck. That's a great update for her iconic neck ruffle.
Thank you! I’m glad you caught onto this :)
I thought that too. Also, she looks a little like Jane Seymore @@RoyaltyNowStudios
E turtleneck made me think of Diane Keaton.
Your work is magnificent, truly.
I think she looks a lot like Meryl Streep.
Love these lifelike versions especially when she smiles
Elizabeth inherited most of her facial features from Anne. I wonder if this resemblance would occasionally trigger Henry’s guilty conscience?
I love this idea. I hope it did!
He didn't have a conscience.
Need to have a conscience to get triggered.
It’s a nice thought but he was a narcissistic sociopath. I don’t think he felt bad about what he did to any of his wives. He was unscrupulous. But I’m glad that Elizabeth got to reign for as long as she did.
He likely didn't have a conscience. Most Narcissists don't.
The dark eyes and red hair is such a powerful combination
У английской королевы Елизаветы I у неё наверное и были рыжие волосы и тёмные глаза.
That's nice to know - my eyes are so dark they are almost black and my hair is auburn! 😃
Yes, always beautiful.
@@Nemie125me too 💛
@@Nemie125mine too
Thats why i liked Cate Blanchet’s portrayal of her. She has the similar narrow, long face that she had.
Was thinking exactly the same thing as I was watching this
As was I
Same here ! I immediately thought of Cate
And Meryl Streep
Agreed!
Cate Blanchett was actually a great casting choice!
If you're looking for an antithesis based on false imagery.
I believe she was, too
@@expected707would you do a better job if it?
@@expected707Word salad
@@monicawylie3985 Yeah.
The “if they lived today” pictures always give me chills! It’s very cool, thank you.
Me too. I nearly started crying 🙃
Same!! Why is this?! The Abraham Lincoln one wrecks me 😭
If they lived today they'd be shocked by the way this channel portrays them.
For some reason thry same more attractive when shown that way. Like reality of how thry really look outside of a drawing
This made me tear up a bit actually. She looks mischievous, charming and regal. I bet she was witty. Her mother was nothing if not intelligent and strong. Thank you for sharing your work! ❤
She was incredibly intelligent
@@suzihixon3998Она Елизавета I возможно встречалась и с русским царём Иваном четвёртым Грозным.
@@suzihixon3998 Along with (of course) English, she spoke French, Italian, Spanish, Latin, Greek, and Celtic languages. She was also learned in philosophy and history.
Glad I am not the only one
Sadistic slaver, branded her Irish. slaves on the forehead. Said they had no souls.
When you showed the modern interpretation of Elizabeth smiling, I started tearing up! For some reason, its always when your recreations are smiling that it happens. I guess because it humanizes them and makes them a lot more relatable.
Thank you again for all the work you put into these.
I find myself smiling back as I’m making them :) it’s crazy
I didn’t, she is creepy. Vicious. Sadistic
I now understand the reasoning behind the refering to someone as a right.. Burke. Prime example.
@@RoyaltyNowStudios Do you smile when you read genuine descriptions about their authentic complexions?
She may not have been a great beauty but from your interpretations, she certainly isn’t unattractive. She has a playfulness and gracefulness that she inherited from her mother
Your interpretations are always amazing ❤
Perhaps these interpretations are too generous. It would be interesting to see a worst-case interpretation along with this one (for example, with pox marks, rotting teeth, indicators of age, and a receding hairline).
@@LVQ-so5th very true, it would be nice to see that side of her that’s more real and blemished compared to airbrushed.
I’ve always thought she was beautiful.
Agreed
Really I found her really beautiful
She is so attractive in the modern version. The one with her glorious red hair that falls down her back is amazing. Well done!
It's a wonderful fantasy.
Looking at this Queens eyes, we see a glimpse of Anne Boleyn 💕
I often wonder what great beauty was back then. So far most of what they considered not a beautiful woman are beautiful by today standards. ❤
Yes by today’s standards, she’s plain, almost ugly.
Her cousin Mary Queen of Scots was considered a great beauty.
@@Scottish_Rose Lol. I often wonder if people commenting on these videos secretly know what they're talking about.
No matter how often I watch this presentation of Queen Elizabeth I, I tear up. I've seen others you've done and they are lovely...but the combination of the images and the music of this one are beyond wonderful. Thank-you for bringing these long-dead women to life so beautifully.
Yes, I feel that the recreation from the younger portrait, in particular, shows her strength, intelligence, and determination.
Thank you for this remarkable, modern portrait of my favorite queen. She must have been an amazing person.
That final version of her I can really see that. She looks like a high status woman. The kind of woman we see walking around department stores, always perfectly turned out with the most fashionable handbags lol. She's a powerful woman with wealth.
Beautiful!! She has been my heroine since jr high. I have her signature tattooed on my arm with a Tudor rose.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I've always admired her even when I was a kid!
I named my daughter after QE 1st.
@@user-rb3zh6sz1b You met her in real life?
@@user-rb3zh6sz1b You knew her?
I love this! Best recreation yet. Elizabeth being her father's daughter wasn't the prettiest woman to ever live but she had a charm that lasted throughout all of her life. She's such an intriguing figure of history. Definitely my favourite female figure in history and one of the people I find most fascinating in general.
I think she was more than pretty, beautiful comes to mind.
And that crown of hair - so beautiful!
Amazing what technology and talent make possible. Brilliant.
A smart and keen look she had. A natural beauty.
Beautiful. It was a hard life back then, with diseases so awful and so rampant. She was a most formidable woman, especially for her time. Kudos on your hard work. xxxx
Of all the many "bring them back to life" channels today, I find yours the best. You take their actual features into account and truly bring them to life, with intelligence and humor. Thanks for the history- which also makes them come alive.
Intelligence requires accuracy. None of this channel's efforts achieve that.
Thank you for this beautiful gift!
She is stunning in your modern interpretation and I think she would like it!! She is no one’s fool in her expression and that is how I see her, thank you so much🥰✌🏼
Beautiful work of art
What a striking and beautiful face! Can't take your eyes off of her.
Those images are based on false portraits. Elizabeth was negroid.
Good job. You managed to translate her intelligence into your renditions. She looks so alive in your versions.
Well, you have managed to depict the beauty, wit and charm of Elizabeth as no contemporary artist did. Marvelous! ✨
Marvelous images! What a life she led...from peril to absolute power. Glorious red hair! I've never thought before to wonder at where that trait came from in the Tudors....???
She’s STUNNING!! Thanks!
I think with the music and the stages of Elizabeth Ist facial changes brings on a realistic yet romantic quality. I love it!!!
What are you talking about guilty conscience. That is really clever and she had beautiful red hair like her dad. Great to see how they really looked, well done. 😊
WOW! Once again you've blown me away with your recreation!!
Elizabeth is one of the first Queens I remember from history growing up. Always having to imagine what she looked like in real life from flat pictures. I don't know how you manage to do this, but I am actually quite overcome with emotion. I feel somewhat privileged to look at and see her real face and even her smile. I can now put an actual face to the stories I remember ❤
Elizabeth brought to life is a true gift. Thank you.
Perhaps the greatest ruler of England, I feel like her vision of the monarchy, as a 'beloved mother of the people' is what made the UK monarchy how it is today. It went through some major rough patches afterwards but I feel her image is one of the reasons why we've been so determined to hang onto it.
A bit emotional watching this
Same! ❤️
Yes
Same, I always cry when I watch these
I loved thr first and the third ones. You are right: there is something noble and elegant about her features.
Thank you for these beautiful images of Elizabeth 1. She is my favorite English Monarch and I have great respect for her. Your videos are always so well done; beautiful and informative. I enjoy them so very much. Thank you for all the time and hard work you put into them.
She looked nothing like those images.
This was absolutely lovely; you did a wonderful job!
I’ve always had a lot of
love for Elizabeth, since childhood. Over the years, I’ve tried to put myself in her position, with the impossible pressures upon her as both a monarch and a woman, as well as the emotional stresses and traumas she undoubtedly faced throughout each stage her life. How she navigated it all, while still reigning so well for so long, I’ll never know. She was born by no choice of her own into the highest privilege, but had basically a serial killer for a father, and a murdered, defamed mother. Oh, and siblings, potential suitors, and other family members also willing to assassinate, assault, or drag her character through the mud to take her position or manipulate her.
That woman had a keen intelligence, and extreme fortitude in the face of intrigue, manipulation, dangerous family drama, court politics, and intense sexism. I certainly couldn’t have done what she did. How she held it all together, I’ll never know.
The modern picture has a touch of Glenn Close and Helen Merrin. The classic aging gracefully appearance. I love it!
I see Princess Anne with red hair!
This is one of the best recreations I have seen of Queen Elizabeth! Well done!
I don't get it. You mean to say you know what she looked like?
This is awesome! Thank you so much for constantly putting out well researched and made videos! love from australia :)
Ditto! Also location ditto! Haha
Thank you!!
Well researched false portraits.
For reasons I can't explain, that last smile moved me to tears.
This fascination I have with the tudor bloodline just came to an all time high with these pictures of the Queen Elizabeth I. Don't get me wrong, your videos and theway you bring these people to life is always chillingly beautiful to me and more often than not I do tear up at ow these people become more real with these recreations. This one just really hit hard for reasons I can't even begin to try and fathom. Outstanding work as always. Your work never fails to touch me and my hyperfixation with women of history.
This is beautifully done! Im in absolute awe.
Well Done! Elizabeth I is one of my heroes and she was one of two (her father being the other) of the most impactful English Monarchs ever. Henry 8th's contribution was rooted in his breaking away from the Catholic Church, which made England far more Protestant and that in turn made America a predominantly Protestant country as well. But Elizabeth I ruled with a steady hand (Pax Elizabeth lasted 40 years) guided by a profound sense of justice (and fairness) which help to start the long process whereupon people would stop killing each other for being Catholic or Protestant. The people began to adopt her lack of desire to 'make windows into men's souls' and instead left that to God.
Henry was a beast. Not sure why you would have sentiment for his Protestantism since that only came about so he could divorce freely, leading to the untimely and unfair deaths of his wives
Yes he set up the Church of England with him as the version of the Pope so he could steal the wealth of the churches and the Catholics. Henry was a spendthrift and out would no give him more. She was a slaver, taking Irish prisoner, running them down, men women and children, selling to Americans and stocking her own cruel plantations with Church of England hierarchy. They branded them on the foreheads, said they had no souls. Just literate when the English and Americans most,y were illiterate.
The process was long indeed. And "stopping killing each other" only came at the expenses of English Catholics, who were virtually segregated from public life and publicly despised since then.
I love your videos and the work you do on faces from history.
I personally think that Elizabeth is a beautiful woman❤️
Stunningly amazing! I am still smiling back. Thank you.
even now it's stopped i'm still smiling 🙂
She's lovely. Great job bringing her to life.
It looks nothing like her description.
I think she was very pretty! She kind of had the Princess Royal's head shape in today's rendition. Awesome video!
That is what I noticed. She looked rather like Princess Anne.
You always give much justice & beauty to your recreations! Excellent Work!
The last image - in the turtleneck - truly speaks to me. There is mischief and intelligence in those dark eyes. She is regal yet approachable. We can see a flash of her charming personality but at the same time, we sense this woman, in her own words, has “the heart and stomach of a king”.
For me, this image captures the woman known to history as Elizabeth the Great.
Wonderful !!!! Elizabeth has always fascinated me. Such an amazing Woman and Queen, to hold her own in a male dominated world. Your final portraits are absolutely stunning !!! When my English Mother passed away she was described in the eulogy as Fierce as Queen Boudicca and as Regal as Queen Elizabeth 1. Something Bold must run through the English blood to produce such amazing women ❤ Thank you for this video .
Beautiful! Having created portraits for some years, I do so love to see expressions emerge in the human face. This was wonderful! Thank you! ❤
I love diving in the past with this channel. Thank you!
I can listen to your voice all day!! Thank you for another video! 💞
You have made her look beautiful.Its the smile as her eyes light up that makes her beautiful.She was allegedly prone to having bad tempers,a bit like her father I guess.She also had wooden dentures because her teeth were so mad.I dread to think how they looked ,I am not sure if they survived..You did a fabulous job as always bringing her to life 🥰
She looks strong and regal but at the same time kind, empathic. She had to be strong for her People and her enemies.
I wouldn't say she was empathetic.
Look at what she did to her own cousin, Mary Queen of Scots!
Off that pretty head!
I'd say she is a chip off her crazy father's block.😮😢
Seeing this sent shivers down my spine....
These efforts are your finest yet, and as fine as any ever could be. You didn't lose a thing from the portrait, and your beautiful rendering of her eyes brought tears to my own! Exquisitely wrought in every detail... I've wished for years to meet her..and I truly feel i just did. 😊❤thank you❤
Once again.,.... Bravo! Well done!! I look forward to your videos. Never fails to amaze me.
She’s truly beautiful. Thank you 😊
Seeing Queen Elizabeth 1st Brough to life,amazing she was beautiful.
Beautifully done, you made Elizabeth come alive ! Her life was lived for her country. She was an intelligent woman and spoke several languages. She ceetainly deserves a very important place in history. Thank you so much for your painstaking work !
You've really brought her to life! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I think she’s beautiful. Her features are light and graceful. Her features are very noble. ❤
The images on this channel are made up, and mostly based on iconoclastic paintings and ignorance. She looked nothing like this. Her true appearance would likely offend you.
I do too.
And yet it looks nothing like five eyewitness descriptions confirming she was negroid.
Adding better eyebrows as you did made a big difference. My complexion is like hers, I don't own any eyebrows either. I have to create them.
You're black?
Big fan of your channel! I particularly love the modern day version, you've captured a sparkle in her eye which I am sure was part of her charm 😍 It actually reminds me of someone - a modern-day actress, perhaps, but I can't think of who.
Tha last image you created made me smile right along with it. So beautiful and such a feeling of warmth coming from it. Well done x
Beautiful Video. What a stifling life the queen lived, the dresses say it all
Elizabeth was beautiful! Maybe not that beautiful, but yet pretty!! I feel like these recreations are the most accurate recreations I've ever seen!! Elizabeth didn't want the future to see her aging, so i understand she didn't want her wrinkles to show in her portraits!
Seems as if she didn't want them to see her olivaster, swarthy complexion either.
Alabaster is pale white. And Elizabeth had a pale completion as did her mother. The swarthy completion came from a Spanish ambassador who was trying to be insulting about Anne Boleyn. He was trying to make out that she must have been a witch for Henry to prefer her over Catherine of Aragon. Therefore he has to make her sound as ugly as possible to appease her parents. It is thought he never even saw her, much less met her.
@@lindamarshall-wc4yt Olivaster, not Alabaster.
@@lindamarshall-wc4yt 3. Sanuto made the claim about Anne's complexion in a personal diary, which had nothing to do with any accusation of witchcraft.
@@lindamarshall-wc4yt 4. In Alison Weir's book Elizabeth is also described as having a swarthy complexion, "like that of her mother."
Beautifully done ❤
The modern interpretation is masterful! Bravo!
Your talent is beyond amazing. Seeing so many of these famous people from history brought to life has brought tears to my eyes more than once. Please keep bringing people from the past back to life so we can see them in our lifetimes! BRAVO! ❤
Since stumbling onto your channel 2 days ago, I am now addicted to the incredible work you do ! You combine some history with the photography and done in such a beautiful way. Naturally I subbed here! Bravo!
Hauntingly beautiful. Thank you for this!❤
I like your modern portrait of her the best. It seems to capture her power and psychological complexity as well as her unconventional beauty.
I had seen the previous version of this and was awe struck. I felt very emotional looking at this reconstruction. Always felt very close to this amazing queen since very young g .What an amazing work.
Absolutely glorious and so beautifully executed! Thank you so much for this!
Fantastic transformation to present time with turtle neck top. Thx for sharing!
Your final image of her makes her look wise, yet delicate.
I’m finding this quite emotional
i think this was a really good rendition of her. she was much prettier than she thought she was. i believe the statements about her being extremely charming and witty were accurate too. i bet she was really something and had a good heart.
I would love to see a comparison of your recreations of the whole Tudor family along with Anne Boleyn/ Mary Queen of Scotts, Mary Tudor, etc. You can see some of the similarities in the portraits. I would lvoe to see your analysis of the traits they shared and how they compare inyour recreations.
Exquisite! You captured the queen's delicate, pensive expressions so masterfully. And the music...glorious✨❤✨ What a talented team you are! Thank you both very much.
I love the way you bring a smile to Elizabeth’s face, it’s like I see through to her soul.
Just amazing work
Thank you for your artistic rendition of
Queen Elizabeth I ✨
Just love your channel - thanks for doing this, makes them seem so human!
I love what you have done with the portraits you used. It's remarkably what you do. I've always thought she was attractive, maybe not a beauty by the standards of that time, but she most certainly wasn't unattractive. Your recreation of her in modern times her looks are striking, elegant, refined, to me I think if she were alive today she could bring any room to silence as she walked in, there was something about her in all her portraits and you captured that I the modern image.
This was the best reconstruction brought forward to date.
It is important to use the historical portraits, and all to often, the reconstructions veer too far away from the paintings as a reliable source material.
As little artistic license as possible should be the goal of modern reconstructions, as the original artists of these portraits have already taken liberties enough for various reasons, and accuracy was never the goal over the desired viewing effect that Elizabeth the First would have wanted. She was the first and last to approve, or not, if the likeness was insufficient to her satisfaction.
Amazing! I believe you captured her spirit.
Your work is wonderful, love it 😊
I like how you made a point of darkening her skin slightly for realism.
Am I right in saying that "fairness" around the time was seen in women as a sign of purity, virginity etc and a desirable completion. So makes sense that even pre smallpox she would want to be seen as pure white even then.
I love the "coming to life" sequences. One of my favorite historical icons. I suggest that the style of the neck frills and the heavy clothing styles were due to being in a cold period (Little Ice Age) thingy. The Romans didn't wear neck frills, I think. :)
I love these windows into past personalities. Thanks.
Stunning work. Simply stunning. Thank you for sharing. 😊
I love thsi channel for realllll ❤❤
❤️❤️❤️
If that's accurate, she resembled Meryl Streep.
I rather think that it would be Meryl Streep who resembles Elizabeth….😂
Gosh I love these videos. Your calming voice, the lovely look back at history, and the beautiful recreations, it’s all just 🤌🏼
Brilliant ! To see your renderings of the queen at the end was amazing , i was thouroghly enthralled