Henry VIII: The Tudor Rose and the Crown
Henry VIII famously used the Tudor Rose, a combination of the white rose of York and the red rose of Lancaster, to symbolize the union of the two feuding houses and the legitimacy of his dynasty. The rose was featured on coins, official documents, and architecture.
His royal crown was also a potent symbol of authority and personal power. The crown represented not just monarchy but Henry’s assertion of supremacy over the Church of England during the Reformation.
Elizabeth I: The Pelican and the Rainbow
Queen Elizabeth I’s reign is filled with symbolic imagery promoting her image as the “Virgin Queen” and a wise, divinely guided monarch.
- The pelican, symbolizing self-sacrifice and nurturing, appeared in her portraits to suggest her devotion to her people.
- The rainbow motif was also popular, representing peace and the promise of prosperity under her rule.
Elizabeth’s portraits were loaded with symbolic objects—books, globes, pearls—each reinforcing her image as learned, powerful, and divinely favored. shutdown123