Elizabeth I (1558 - 1603). Elizabeth I was Queen of England from 1558 until her death in 1603. She is one of the most famous monarchs in English history and has been represented in art in various ways throughout the centuries. During her reign, Elizabeth I used art as a means of projecting her power and authority. She commissioned many portraits of herself that were intended to convey her strength, intelligence, and beauty. These portraits were often highly idealized, depicting the queen in elaborate dresses and jewelry, with perfect skin and a serene expression. One of the most famous portraits of Elizabeth I is the "Armada Portrait," which was painted to commemorate the English victory over the Spanish Armada in 1588. In this portrait, the queen is shown wearing a white dress and a pearl necklace, with her hand resting on a globe. Behind her, a stormy sea can be seen, symbolizing the defeat of the Spanish Armada. The portrait is notable for its symbolism and its use of color, as well as its depiction of the queen as a powerful and commanding figure. Another famous portrait of Elizabeth I is the "Ditchley Portrait," which was painted by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger in 1592. In this portrait, the queen is shown standing on a map of England, with her feet planted firmly on Oxfordshire, the county where she was born. She wears a elaborate gown and a pearl-encrusted headdress, and holds a fan in one hand and a scepter in the other. The portrait is notable for its use of symbolism, as well as its depiction of the queen as a powerful and regal figure. Elizabeth I was also depicted in other forms of art, including literature and theater. She was a patron of the arts and supported many writers and playwrights, including William Shakespeare. Many of Shakespeare's plays were performed for the queen and her court, and some of them feature strong female characters that are believed to have been inspired by Elizabeth I. In recent years, Elizabeth I has continued to be a popular subject in art and popular culture. She has been depicted in films, television shows, and novels, and her image is often used in advertising and marketing campaigns. Despite the passage of time, Elizabeth I remains a powerful and enduring symbol of English history and culture. Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, his second wife, who was executed two-and-a-half years after Elizabeth's birth. Anne's marriage to Henry VIII was annulled, and Elizabeth was declared illegitimate. Her half-brother, Edward VI, ruled until his death in 1553, bequeathing the crown to Lady Jane Grey and ignoring the claims of his two half-sisters, Elizabeth and the Roman Catholic Mary, in spite of statute law to the contrary. Edward's will was set aside and Mary became queen, deposing Lady Jane Grey. During Mary's reign, Elizabeth was imprisoned for nearly a year on suspicion of supporting Protestant rebels. In 1558 upon Mary's death, Elizabeth succeeded her half-sister to the throne and set out to rule by good counsel. She depended heavily on a group of trusted advisers, led by William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley. One of her first actions as queen was the establishment of an English Protestant church, of which she became the Supreme Governor. This Elizabethan Religious Settlement was to evolve into the Church of England. It was expected that Elizabeth would marry and produce an heir; however, despite numerous courtships, she never did. She was eventually succeeded by her first cousin twice removed, James VI of Scotland. She had earlier been responsible for the imprisonment and execution of James's mother, Mary, Queen of Scots. In government, Elizabeth was more moderate than her father and half-siblings had been. One of her mottoes was video et taceo. In religion, she was relatively tolerant and avoided systematic persecution. After the pope declared her illegitimate in 1570 and released her subjects from obedience to her, several conspiracies threatened her life, all of which were defeated with the help of her ministers' secret service. Elizabeth was cautious in foreign affairs, manoeuvring between the major powers of France and Spain. She only half-heartedly supported a number of ineffective, poorly resourced military campaigns in the Netherlands, France, and Ireland.