|| Analysis of an Elizabethan portrait ||

Portrait of a Noblewoman
British Painter, ca. 1600
Oil on wood

44 1/2 x 34 3/4 in. (113 x 88.3 cm)
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1911 (11.149.1)

I have decided to look at this particular portrait because of the outfit and how much it involves and how many pieces of it- mean a lot of things. Near the collar we can see the "Tudor Rose and was displayed as a mark of recognition by an individual or family and worn as a symbol of loyalty. The emblem became part of the British tradition. The Tudor Rose Badge is still evident on the uniforms of the Yeomen Warders at the Tower of London."-http://www.sixwives.info/tudor-rose.htm

There is also lots of pearls around the neck and the wrists which symbolise wealth, nobility and possibly even virginity. The Noblewoman is also holding a bouquet made out of feathers. This type of accessory was only used by upper or noble class Elizabethan ladies. 

"Elizabethan women and men were not allowed to wear whatever color of clothes that they liked. It did not matter how wealthy they were - the color, fabric and material of their clothes were dictated by their rank, status or position and this was enforced by English Law. These laws about the color of clothes that men and women were allowed to wear in the Elizabethan era were called Sumptuary Laws. They were designed to limit the expenditure of people on clothes - and of course to maintain the social structure of the Elizabethan Class system." -http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/meaning-colors.htm

We can see a bit of crimson fabric hanging down in the background, which shows how wealthy the woman in the portrait is, as red was one of the most expensive colours. She can have the most expensive fabric, and use it as a curtain.

Expensive kermes and later cochineal dye was used to produce the colour crimson. One of the Sumptuary Laws stated that only the Royalty, Nobility and members of the council are allowed to wear this colour.