Final answer:
The "Armada Portrait" of Queen Elizabeth, painted around 1588 by George Gower, symbolizes English defiance of Spanish power with Elizabeth's hand on a globe, the background depicting the defeat of the Spanish Armada, and the distress of Spanish ships highlighting their naval struggles.
Step-by-step explanation:
To analyze the "Armada Portrait" of Queen Elizabeth, we must consider its visual elements and the historical context surrounding its creation. The portrait, attributed to George Gower around 1588, is rich with symbolism that reflects England's naval victories and the nation's defiance of Spanish power during that era. A key aspect of the portrait is Elizabeth's hand on a globe positioned over the Americas, which signals English ambitions and her symbolic claim over the world. The background includes scenes of the defeat of the Spanish Armada, reinforcing her image as a triumphant ruler.
The portrait also shows elaborate and regal attire, depicting Elizabeth as a powerful monarch with divine right to rule. The placement of the English ships in the background as they confront the Spanish vessels illustrates the confrontation between the two nations. Moreover, the turbulent seas and distressed Spanish ships showcased in the background signal the providential storms that helped destroy the Spanish fleet, often referred to as the 'Protestant wind.'
Elizabeth's poised and confident pose, coupled with the iconography of sea power and divine favor, served as a visual declaration of England's emerging status as the dominant naval and colonial force, supplanting the waning Spanish Empire. The Armada Portrait is not only a representation of the queen but also a political statement about England's rising power and the shifting balance of power in Europe.