The Sieve Portrait

Quentin Metsys the Younger (1543-1589) was a painter, best known for this particular piece created in 1583, a portrait of Elizabeth I titled Sieve Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I. The portrait was constructed with oil on a panel and now resides in The Pinacoteca Nazionale, a museum in Siena, Tuscany, Italy.

Throughout her reign as Queen of England, Elizabeth sat for many portraits all of which would include different objects or backgrounds to convey different stages of her life. Certain objects became familiar throughout Elizabeth’s portraits. The inclusion of a column and the globe symbolise empire and the repetition of their presence throughout her portraits reinforced her power.

In this portrait, Elizabeth poses with a sieve as it symbolises purity. This connotation originates from a story called Petrarch’s Triumph of Chastity where a Roman Vestal Virgin proves her innocence by carrying water in a sieve and not spilling any. In Elizabeth’s case, the sieve represents her ‘Virgin Queen’ status. Around the edge of the sieve there is an inscription that translates as ‘the good falls to the ground while the bad remains in the saddle’.

To the right of Elizabeth in the portrait, we see her courtiers, one of which is believed to be Sir Christopher Hatton. If it is him, it is possible that it was he who arranged this portrait having met the artist, Quentin, 10 years prior to this portrait during a trip to Antwerp.

Behind Elizabeth, oval images relay the story of Aeneas and Dido. The Queen is supposedly similar to Aeneas as she too was faced with temptation (marriage) but chose to lead a powerful nation.

The gown Elizabeth is wearing has puffy sleeves, a full skirt and is cinched at the waist which makes for an exaggerated silhouette. It’s made of a rich black fabric, a colour that was recognised as a colour worn by high class people. She displays jewels around her waist, neck and in her hair as well as a large brooch, all of which convey her wealth and beauty. 

Pinacoteca Nazionale (Siena) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2013.Pinacoteca Nazionale (Siena) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinacoteca_Nazionale_(Siena). [Accessed 07 October 2013].

File:Metsys Elizabeth I The Sieve Portrait c1583.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2013. File:Metsys Elizabeth I The Sieve Portrait c1583.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Metsys_Elizabeth_I_The_Sieve_Portrait_c1583.jpg. [Accessed 07 October 2013].

Quentin Metsys the Younger - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2013.Quentin Metsys the Younger - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quentin_Metsys_the_Younger. [Accessed 07 October 2013].

1583 "Sieve" portrait by Quentin Metsys the Younger (Pinacoteca Nazionale, Siena Italy) | Grand Ladies | gogm. 2013. 1583 "Sieve" portrait by Quentin Metsys the Younger (Pinacoteca Nazionale, Siena Italy) | Grand Ladies | gogm. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.gogmsite.net/the_late_farthingale_era_fr/minialbum_queen_elizabeth_o/1583_sieve_portrait_by_quen.html. [Accessed 07 October 2013].