Sunday, 7 December 2014

The death of the Virgin Queen

After looking at many images of contemporary Elizabethan inspired make-up looks, researching veins and researching about Elizabeth I was particularly interested in when she had given up on life and almost willed herself to die. Towards the end of her life she began to show a fragile side and was lonely as her friends passed away one by one and fed up despite having a luxurious way of living compared to the poor people living during her reign. She said “To be a king and wear a crown, is a thing more glorious to them that see it, than it is pleasant to them that bear it” 
For years the Queen suffered with mental illnesses that could not be diagnosed or treated during her time, she became paranoid and bitter when previously she had been witty and charming. 
In late 1602 Elizabeth became ill and refused to go to her bed and remained lying on cushions in her private apartments, she also refused medicine and advice from her doctors and it has been said that if she had tried she could have made a recovery. When people spoke about recovery to her she didn't give much response and soon only communicated through gestures, this is when everyone knew she was dying. She was left to the care of her ladies and died in the early hours of 24th March 1603, the eve of the annunciation of the Virgin Mary and on a Thursday which was the death day of her father and sister. It has been said when the death of the Queen was announced after her almost 45 year reign, the streets had an eery silence and a lot of people had been brought up knowing nothing else but the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
After researching the period of time where the Queen became ill and depressed and eventually her death I decided to make my post more dark to represent this time in her life and death. I am thinking of incorporating a smudgy and dramatic smokey eye paired with a dark lip into my design as well as the veins to represent Elizabeth's desire to be beautiful.

Quotes and information sourced from: http://www.elizabethi.org/contents/death/



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