Elizabeth I was nearing the end of her reign when, in 1597, Hilliard painted this miniature of an unknown lady wearing an embroidered bodice and sleeves, an enormous lace-edged ruff, and a quantity of gold and pearl jewelry. The delicate, angular lines, together with the precision and finesse of the artist's handling, bear witness to his training as a goldsmith. The sitter's pallor would have been fashionable at court and was perhaps cosmetically enhanced; the full cheeks and soft double chin must be uniquely her own.

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