Queen Elizabeth of Hardwick Hall

I realize this has nothing to do with cities, suburbia, planning and community, but.

Isn't there always a lesson in looking at something closely?

In a world before billboards, tv ads and groupon, there was the portrait.  This one by Nicholas Hilliard hangs in Hardwick Hall, subject of an earlier post here.  It is, of course, Queen Elizabeth.

Her detailed skirt reveals her to be ruler of everything on land and sea, including some things that look as though they don't belong in either place.  Sharp toothed dolphins, sea monsters, snakes, water birds and many varieties of flowers.

This website contains close-ups of a number of wonderful paintings, including this one:

http://largesizepaintings.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/nicholas-hilliard-elizabeth-i-1599-1600.html#comment-form