Elizabeth I, c.1603 (pen & ink and wash on paper)

Pen and brown and black ink with grey wash; the coarser washes on the cloak and shadow lower right probably by a later hand; indented for transfer A pen and ink drawing with brush and wash of Elizabeth I, Queen of England. Whole length figure of Elizabeth I wearing crown with pearls, a lace collar, and a pearl and jewel embroidered gown, dressed as in Edmund Bohun's description of the Queen's robes worn at the State Opening of Parliament. The drawing was the model for an engraving by Crispin van de Passe the Elder (RCIN 601076 and RCIN 601073), and as such Elizabeth is represented holding the orb and sceptre in the incorrect hands, anticipating the reversal of the image through the printmaking process. On the evidence of the print, which is inscribed 'Isaac Oliuier effigiebat Crispin van de Passe incidebat', the drawing has been attributed to both Isaac Oliver and de Passe. Roy Strong argued that the drawing was produced by de Passe and based on William Rodger's engraving (RCIN 601073 and RCIN 601076) and an unfinished miniature by Oliver, now in the V&A. This was contested by Antony Griffiths who reattributed the drawing to Oliver due to its lack of similarity to the (admittedly few) known drawings by de Passe. The very high quality of the drawing, and the similarity of modelling of flesh to that seen in Oliver's miniatures and drawings, would favour an attribution to Oliver.