The Pregnancy Portrait of Elizabeth 1. Taking a close look at the painting. By David Shakespeare.

A more detailed pdf on this topic available at. The video describes a detailed analysis of the painting currently labelled “Unknown woman in Persian dress“ by Marcus Gheeraerts, and hanging in the Haunted Gallery of Hampton Court Palace. I present evidence that the subject is a pregnant Elizabeth 1. I have decoded the complex allegories within the painting, including a link to Shakespeare’s poem The Phoenix and the Turtle. I have proposed how the painting looked originally and how and why changes were made to it. I give my interpretation of the meaning of the painting in order to stimulate further study and interest. Join me in having a really close look at this wonderful painting, which I believe is one of the most important Elizabethan artefacts, from which there is much still to learn.